Shloka 28

वर्षावर्णनम्

The Monsoon Description and Rama’s Counsel on Timing

Devanagari script

प्रहर्षिताः केतकपुष्पगन्धमाघ्राय हृष्टा वननिर्झरेषु।प्रपातशब्दाकुलिता गजेन्द्रास्सार्धं मयूरै स्समदा नदन्ति।।

Transliteration

praharṣitāḥ ketakapuṣpagandham āghrāya hṛṣṭā vananirjhareṣu | prapātaśabdākulitā gajendrāḥ sārdhaṃ mayūraiḥ samadā nadanti ||

Translation

Di jeram-jeram rimba yang bergema, gajah-gajah agung bersukacita; terpesona oleh harum bunga ketakī dan digoncang oleh deru air terjun, mereka mengaum dalam mabuk kegirangan bersama burung merak.

Word by Word

• praharṣitāḥ: delighted
• praharṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praharṣita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √hṛṣ धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Prathamā (nom, 1st), Bahuvacana (pl); bhūtakṛdanta (past participle) used adjectivally

• ketakapuṣpagandham: the fragrance of ketaka flowers
• ketakapuṣpagandham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ketaka + puṣpa + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Dvitīyā (acc, 2nd), Ekavacana (sg); samāsa: ketakasya puṣpasya gandhaḥ (genitive-tatpuruṣa chain)

• āghrāya: having smelled
• āghrāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ghrā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), indeclinable verbal form; ‘having smelled’

• hṛṣṭāḥ: joyful
• hṛṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √hṛṣ धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Prathamā (nom, 1st), Bahuvacana (pl); past participle used adjectivally

• vana-nirjhareṣu: in the forest waterfalls
• vana-nirjhareṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana + nirjhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Saptamī (loc, 7th), Bahuvacana (pl); samāsa: vaneṣu nirjharāḥ (locative-tatpuruṣa)

• prapāta-śabda-ākulitāḥ: disturbed by the sound of cascades
• prapāta-śabda-ākulitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prapāta + śabda + ākulita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √kul/√ākul? adjectival)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Prathamā (nom, 1st), Bahuvacana (pl); samāsa: prapātasya śabdena ākulitāḥ (instrumental sense within tatpuruṣa)

• gajendrāḥ: lordly elephants
• gajendrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gajendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Prathamā (nom, 1st), Bahuvacana (pl); samāsa: gajānāṃ indraḥ (lord among elephants)

• sārdham: together with
• sārdham: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upasarga-like adverb meaning ‘together with’; governs instrumental

• mayūraiḥ: with peacocks
• mayūraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mayūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Tṛtīyā (instr, 3rd), Bahuvacana (pl)

• samadāḥ: in rut, intoxicated
• samadāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-mada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Prathamā (nom, 1st), Bahuvacana (pl); ‘mada-yuktāḥ’ (possessing intoxication/rut)

• nadanti: trumpet/roar
• nadanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nad (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana (pl); parasmaipada

Context

'The lordly elephants get intoxicated with the fragrance of ketaki flowers, the noise of waterfalls and the cackle of peacocks and they give out a shrill trumpet.

Characters & Entities

• elephants (gajendra)
• peacocks (mayūra)
• waterfalls (nirjhara/prapāta)

FAQs

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

The verse indirectly cautions that sensory excitement (scents, sounds, intoxication) can overpower; dharma requires awareness and restraint so that pleasure does not become disorder.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa depicts the heightened vitality of the monsoon landscape, a setting that contrasts with the human obligation to act on vows and responsibilities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viveka (discernment): recognizing nature’s intoxications while not being ruled by them.