Shloka 21

वर्षावर्णनम्

The Monsoon Description and Rama’s Counsel on Timing

Devanagari script

वर्षोदकाप्यायितशाद्वलानिप्रवृत्तनृत्तोत्सवबर्हिणानि।वनानि निर्वृष्टवलाहकानिपश्यापराह्णेष्वधिकं विभान्ति।।

Transliteration

varṣodakāpyāyita-śādvalāni pravṛtta-nṛttotsava-barhiṇāni | vanāni nirvṛṣṭa-valāhakāni paśyāparāhṇeṣv adhikaṃ vibhānti ||

Translation

見よ、午後には森がいよいよ輝く。雲が雨を注ぎ終え、草地は雨水に潤い満ち、孔雀は舞の祭りを始めている。

Word by Word

• varṣa-udaka-āpyāyita-śādvalāni: grassy grounds nourished by rain-water
• varṣa-udaka-āpyāyita-śādvalāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varṣa + udaka + ā-√pyā (प्या धातु, वृद्धौ) (कृदन्त) + śādvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural; Tatpuruṣa chain: śādvalāni (grassy patches) āpyāyitāni (swollen/nourished) by rain-water; PPP (क्त) in āpyāyita

• pravṛtta-nṛtta-utsava-barhiṇāni: with peacocks begun in dance-festival
• pravṛtta-nṛtta-utsava-barhiṇāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravṛtta (कृदन्त; pra-√vṛt वृत्तौ) + nṛtta + utsava + barhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural; Tatpuruṣa: barhiṇāni (peacock-filled) having begun (pravṛtta) the dance-festival (nṛtta-utsava); pravṛtta as PPP (क्त)

• vanāni: forests
• vanāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• nirvṛṣṭa-valāhakāni: when clouds have poured out (their rain)
• nirvṛṣṭa-valāhakāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√vṛṣ (वृष् धातु, वर्षणे) (कृदन्त) + valāhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural; Tatpuruṣa: valāhakaiḥ nirvṛṣṭa (after clouds have rained out); PPP (क्त)

• paśya: see!
• paśya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश् धातु, दर्शने)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, Imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• aparāhṇeṣu: in the afternoons
• aparāhṇeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aparāhṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• adhikam: more, exceedingly
• adhikam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (avyayavat) meaning 'more, exceedingly' modifying vibhānti

• vibhānti: shine, appear splendid
• vibhānti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√bhā (भा धातु, दीप्तौ)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

Context

'The tender green grass of the forest is shining with rain-water, the peacocks are having dance festival and the forests look more enchanting in the afternoon.

Characters & Entities

• forests (vana)
• clouds (valāhaka)
• peacocks (barhin/mayūra)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Joy after duty: the forests become radiant after the clouds have discharged their burden. Dharma suggests fulfillment comes when one first completes one’s proper work, then rests in harmony.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama highlights how the post-rain afternoon transforms the forest—fresh grass and peacock dances signal seasonal renewal.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Appreciation and serenity: the capacity to recognize wholesome beauty without distraction from one’s mission.