Shloka 4.1.29
पम्पा-तीर-वर्णनम् / Rama’s Lament at Pampa and the Approach to Rishyamuka
अशोकस्तबकाङ्गारष्षट्पदस्वननिःस्वनः।मां हि पल्लवताम्रार्चिर्वसन्ताग्निः प्रधक्ष्यति।।।।
aśoka-stabakāṅgāraḥ ṣaṭpada-svananiḥsvanaḥ |
māṁ hi pallava-tāmrārciḥ vasantāgniḥ pradhakṣyati ||
Indeed, the ‘fire of spring’ will burn me: Aśoka flower-clusters are its coals, the humming of bees its crackle, and the copper-red glow of tender leaves its flame.
'The fire of spring with clusters of Asoka flowers as its charcoal, its copper-coloured tender leaves as flames, the buzz of bees as its crackle will, as if, consume me.
The verse underscores truthful acknowledgement of suffering (satya) while remaining aligned with dharma: one may be ‘burned’ inwardly, yet must not forsake righteous action.
Rāma poetically describes spring as a consuming fire, because it intensifies his separation from Sītā.
Emotional depth joined with restraint: Rāma’s grief is intense, but expressed through reflective speech rather than harmful conduct.