Shloka 5

हेमन्तवर्णनम् तथा भरतधर्मनिष्ठा-चिन्तनम्

Winter Description and Reflection on Bharata’s Devotion

Devanagari script

नीहारपरुषो लोकः पृथिवी सस्यशालिनी।जलान्यनुपभोग्यानि सुभगो हव्यवाहनः।।।।

Transliteration

nīhāraparuṣo lokaḥ pṛthivī sasyaśālinī |

jalāny anupabhogyāni subhago havyavāhanaḥ ||

Translation

മഞ്ഞിന്റെ കടുപ്പം ജനങ്ങൾ അനുഭവിക്കുന്നു; ഭൂമി വിളകളാൽ സമൃദ്ധമാണ്; ജലങ്ങൾ ഇനി ഉപയോഗിക്കാൻ സുഖകരമല്ല, എന്നാൽ ഹവ്യവാഹനായ അഗ്നി പ്രത്യേകമായി മനോഹരമാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• नीहार-परुषः: harsh with fog/frost
• नीहार-परुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīhāra-paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: nīhāreṇa paruṣaḥ (harsh due to fog/frost)

• लोकः: the world/people
• लोकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• पृथिवी: the earth
• पृथिवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• सस्य-शालिनी: rich in crops
• सस्य-शालिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sasya-śālinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: sasyena śālinī (abounding in crops)

• जलानि: waters
• जलानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• अनुपभोग्यानि: not enjoyable/usable
• अनुपभोग्यानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-upa-bhuj (धातु) + ya (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/ya-participle (भाव्य/तव्यत्-समकक्ष), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; meaning 'not fit to be enjoyed/used' qualifying 'jalāni'

• सुभगः: pleasant, charming
• सुभगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: subhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying 'havyavāhanaḥ'

• हव्यवाहनः: fire (oblation-carrier)
• हव्यवाहनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: havya-vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: havyasya vāhanaḥ (carrier of oblations = fire)

Context

O sweet-speaking brother, the season which is dear to you has arrived. It appears the auspicious year is going to be embellished with this season.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• pṛthivī (earth)
• havyavāhana (Agni)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as living wisely with conditions set by nature—recognizing limits (cold waters) and appropriate supports (fire), a practical ethic of right conduct in changing circumstances.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues a seasonal description in the forest, noting how fog, crops, water, and fire are experienced at this time.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical discernment (viveka): observing reality clearly and adapting without complaint.