Shloka 21
Varṣā-Śarad Vṛndāvana-Śobha: The Beauty of the Rainy and Autumn Seasons in Vraja
पीत्वाप: पादपा: पद्भिरासन्नानात्ममूर्तय: । प्राक् क्षामास्तपसा श्रान्ता यथा कामानुसेवया ॥ २१ ॥
pītvāpaḥ pādapāḥ padbhir āsan nānātma-mūrtayaḥ prāk kṣāmās tapasā śrāntā yathā kāmānusevayā
The trees, once thin and dry from hardship, drank the newly fallen rainwater through their ‘feet’—their roots—and their many features blossomed again. Similarly, one whose body has grown lean from austerity shows signs of health once more upon enjoying the material objects gained by that austerity.
The word pāda means foot, and pā means drinking. Trees are called pādapa because they drink through their roots, which are likened to feet. Upon drinking the newly fallen rainwater, the trees in Vṛndāvana began to manifest new leaves, sprouts and blossoms, and they thus enjoyed new growth. Similarly, materialistic persons often perform severe austerities to acquire the object of their desire. For example, politicians in America undergo grueling austerities while traveling about the countryside campaigning for election. Businessmen also will often deny personal comfort to make their business successful. Such austere persons, upon acquiring the fruits of their austerity, again become healthy and satisfied, like trees eagerly drinking rainwater after enduring the austerity of a dry, hot summer.
FAQs
It says that when the rains came, the trees regained fullness and strength after being dried and exhausted by heat—used as a comparison to how indulgence in sense desire leaves one drained.
To teach a spiritual contrast: external refreshment (rain) restores the trees, while chasing sense pleasure (kāma) depletes a person’s vitality and peace, urging the listener toward restraint and devotion.
Recognize what truly restores you: nourishing habits and devotional practice renew strength, whereas compulsive sense indulgence often leads to burnout—so choose disciplines that bring lasting clarity and steadiness.