Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 9
एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः
उपतप्तोदका नद्यः पल्वलानि सरांसि च।परिशुष्कपलाशानि वनान्युपवनानि च।।2.59.9।।
upataptodakā nadyaḥ palvalāni sarāṃsi ca | pariśuṣkapalāśāni vanāny upavanāni ca || 2.59.9 ||
नद्यः उपतप्तोदकाः प्रवहन्ति; पल्वलानि सरांसि च तथैव; वनानि उपवनानि च परिशुष्कपलाशानि भवन्ति।
Water in rivers, ponds and lakes has heated up while all the foliage in the forests and gardens have shrivelled.
FAQs
Dharma is depicted as an ordering principle for society and nature: when truth and rightful order are endangered, the world shows signs of imbalance, warning leaders to uphold satya and righteous governance.
Ayodhyā is portrayed as suffering abnormal natural conditions—heated waters and dried foliage—serving as ominous markers during the upheaval connected with Rāma’s fate.
The implied virtue is the ruler’s responsibility: a king must respond to signs of disorder by protecting righteousness and the welfare of beings under his care.