Shloka 49

शरत्प्रवेशे रामविलापः तथा सुग्रीवप्रमादे लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम्

Autumn’s Onset: Rama’s Lament and Lakshmana Sent to Sugriva

Devanagari script

प्रकीर्णहंसाकुलमेखलानांप्रबुद्धपद्मोत्पलमालिनीनाम्।वाप्युत्तमानामधिकाऽद्य लक्ष्मीर्वराङ्गनानामिव भूषितानाम्।।

Transliteration

prakīrṇahaṃsākulamekhalānāṃ prabuddhapadmotpalamālinīnām |

vāpyuttamānām adhikā ’dya lakṣmīḥ varāṅganānām iva bhūṣitānām ||

Translation

今日、最上の池々の美はさらに増す――白鳥は帯のように散り、目覚めた蓮と睡蓮は花鬘のように連なり、まるで飾り立てた高貴な女性たちのようである。

Word by Word

• प्रकीर्ण-हंस-आकुल-मेखलानाम्: of (ponds) whose girdles are crowded with scattered swans
• प्रकीर्ण-हंस-आकुल-मेखलानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकीर्ण (कृदन्त) + हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक) + मेखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘प्रकीर्णहंसैः आकुला मेखला यसाम्’ (those whose girdles are crowded with scattered swans)

• प्रबुद्ध-पद्म-उत्पल-मालिनीनाम्: of (ponds) having garlands of awakened lotuses and lilies
• प्रबुद्ध-पद्म-उत्पल-मालिनीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रबुद्ध (कृदन्त) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पल (प्रातिपदिक) + मालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘प्रबुद्धपद्मोत्पलानि मालाः यसाम्’

• वापी-उत्तमानाम्: of the excellent ponds
• वापी-उत्तमानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (उत्तमाः वाप्यः)

• अधिकā: greater, more abundant
• अधिकā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘greater/abundant’ (agreeing with लक्ष्मीः)

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• लक्ष्मीः: splendour/beauty (Lakshmi)
• लक्ष्मीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• वर-अङ्गनानाम्: of excellent women
• वर-अङ्गनानाम्: Upamana-sambandha (उपमान-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (वराः अङ्गनाः)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• भूषितानाम्: adorned
• भूषितानाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूष् (भूष् धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘adorned’ (qualifying वराङ्गनानाम्)

Context

'Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth (also of autumn) appears decorated with deep wells like an excellent lady with swans as girdles and blooming lotuses and lilies as garlands.

Characters & Entities

• lakṣmī (splendour/Lakshmi)
• vāpi (ponds)
• haṃsa (swans)
• padma (lotus)
• utpala (lily)

FAQs

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

Dharma honours auspicious order and stewardship: beauty is portrayed as the result of harmony and proper flourishing, implying that right living nurtures ‘śrī’ (well-being) in one’s surroundings.

What is the narrative situation?

The description continues with autumnal ponds at their most splendid, contributing to the reflective mood before Rama speaks of his grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Saṃrakṣaṇa (care): valuing and preserving what is wholesome and beautiful, rather than exploiting it.