Shloka 22
हेमन्तवर्णनम् तथा भरतधर्मनिष्ठा-चिन्तनम्
Winter Description and Reflection on Bharata’s Devotion
एते हि समुपासीना विहगा जलचारिणः।नावगाहन्ति सलिलमप्रगल्भा इवाहवम्।।।।
ete hi samupāsīnā vihagā jalacāriṇaḥ |
nāvagāhanti salilam apragalbhā ivāhavam ||
ഈ ജലചര പക്ഷികൾ അടുത്തുകൂടി ഇരുന്നിട്ടും ജലത്തിൽ ഇറങ്ങുന്നില്ല—യുദ്ധഭൂമിയിൽ കടക്കാത്ത ഭീരുക്കളായ യോദ്ധാക്കളെപ്പോലെ.
Just as inefficient warriors do not enter the warfield, aquatic birds sitting near water do not venture to take a plunge into it.
FAQs
It underscores courage as a dharmic necessity in one’s rightful duty: merely staying near the duty-field is not enough; one must enter and act when the moment calls.
Rama continues describing winter: even aquatic birds hesitate to enter the cold water, which he likens to hesitant fighters avoiding battle.
Valor and readiness—especially associated with kṣatriya-dharma (the duty to face challenges directly).