Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 20
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च
Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed
आकुलारुण तोयानि स्रोतांसि विमलान्यपि।उन्मार्गजलवाहिनी बभूवुर्जलदागमे।।2.63.20।।
ākulāruṇa-toyāni srotāṃsi vimalāny api | unmārga-jala-vāhinī babhūvur jaladāgame || 2.63.20 ||
மேகங்கள் வந்தபோது, தூய ஓடைகளும் கலங்கி செம்மண் கலந்த சிவந்த நீருடன் ஆனன; வழி மாறி ஒழுங்கற்ற கால்வாய்களாக நீரை எடுத்துச் சென்றன.
The streams that were pure, mixed with red soil flowed red, deviating from their natural course.
FAQs
Dharma is staying ‘on the right course’: when forces disturb clarity, one must guard against deviation—an image for moral drift under passion or haste.
With monsoon rains, streams turn reddish and overflow, running in altered directions rather than their usual channels.
Self-control (indriya-nigraha): without it, like waters leaving their course, a person can be driven into harmful actions.