Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 50, Shloka 21
गङ्गादर्शनम् तथा गुहसमागमः
Vision of the Gaṅgā and Meeting with Guha
क्वचित्कुमुदषण्डैश्च कुड्मलैरुपशोभिताम्।नानापुष्परजोध्वस्तां समदामिव च क्वचित्।।2.50.21।।
kvacit kumuda-ṣaṇḍaiś ca kuḍmalair upaśobhitām |
nānā-puṣpa-rajo-dhvastāṃ samadām iva ca kvacit ||2.50.21||
Di beberapa tempat ia makin elok oleh rumpun bunga kumuda dan kuncup yang setengah mekar; di tempat lain, tertaburi serbuk sari aneka bunga, ia tampak seakan-akan lembut dalam kemabukan yang suci.
Here she is decked with hosts of water-lilies and half-blown flowers while elsewhere she looks intoxicated with the pollen fallen from various flowers.
FAQs
Dharma as balance: the imagery of ‘intoxication’ is metaphorical, reminding that delight in beauty should remain within self-control and clarity.
The poet paints the river’s floral richness and the sensory atmosphere along its course.
Temperance (dama): enjoying beauty without losing discernment.