Shloka 4.30.35
शरत्प्रवेशे रामविलापः तथा सुग्रीवप्रमादे लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम् (Autumn’s Onset: Rama’s Lament and Lakshmana Sent to Sugriva)
प्रियान्वितानां नलिनीप्रियाणांवने रतानां कुसुमोद्धतानाम्।मदोत्कटानां मदलालसानांगजोत्तमानां गतयोऽद्य मन्दाः।।
priyānvitānāṃ nalinīpriyāṇāṃ vane ratānāṃ kusumoddhatānām | madotkaṭānāṃ madalālasānāṃ gajottamānāṃ gatayo ’dya mandāḥ ||
Today the movements of the lordly elephants are slow—accompanied by their beloved mates, fond of lotus-ponds, delighting in the forest, exhilarated by the fragrance of blossoms, and stirred by rut and longing.
'Lordly elephants accompanied by their dear female mates, fond of lotus ponds and woods are out to enjoy the sweet smell of the blossoms of saptachada and excited by passion and longing for sexual union are moving slowly.
It implicitly contrasts powerful natural impulse (rut, passion) with the observable slowing and orderliness of nature—suggesting that even strength is tempered by rhythm and season; Dharma includes self-governed conduct aligned with proper time and context.
A descriptive passage on the onset of autumn in Kiṣkindhā-kāṇḍa, painting seasonal changes through animal behavior while the story prepares for renewed action.
Not a direct character-virtue verse; it supports the epic’s ethical mood by highlighting moderation and the regulation of desire by time (kāla) and circumstance.