Shloka 25
वर्षावर्णनम्
The Monsoon Description and Rama’s Counsel on Timing
निद्रा शनैः केशवमभ्युपैतिद्रुतं नदी सागरमभ्युपैति।हृष्टा बलाका घनमभ्युपैतिकान्ता सकामा प्रियमभ्युपैति।।
nidrā śanaiḥ keśavam abhyupaiti drutaṃ nadī sāgaram abhyupaiti | hṛṣṭā balākā ghanam abhyupaiti kāntā sakāmā priyam abhyupaiti ||
As sleep gently steals upon Keśava, so the river swiftly hastens to the sea; the delighted balākā bird draws near the cloud, and the longing beloved draws near her dear one.
'Sleep steals over Lord Visnu. The rivers run swiftly to the sea, the female herons fly to catch the clouds joyfully. The young bride eagerly approaches her dear lord. (It is believed that Lord Visnu goes to sleep during chaturmasya, ie. from Asarh to Kartik)
FAQs
Dharma here is implied through ‘order’: beings move toward their proper ends—river to sea, bird to cloud, lover to beloved—suggesting that right action aligns with one’s nature and rightful relationship, not with confusion or neglect.
During the rainy season in Kishkindhā, Lakṣmaṇa describes monsoon signs to Rāma; the imagery also indirectly intensifies Rāma’s longing and the urgency of keeping promises (such as Sugrīva’s pledged help).
Steadfastness to rightful direction (niyati/niyama): the verse uses natural analogies to highlight purposeful movement—an implicit call for humans too to move toward duty and pledged action.