Shloka 20

वर्षावर्णनम्

The Monsoon Description and Rama’s Counsel on Timing

Devanagari script

विद्युत्पताकास्सबलाकमालाःशैलेन्द्रकूटाकृतिसन्निकाशाः।गर्जन्ति मेघाः समुदीर्णनादाःमत्ता गजेन्द्रा इव संयुगस्थाः।।

Transliteration

vidyut-patākāḥ sa-balāka-mālāḥ śailendra-kūṭākṛti-sannikāśāḥ | garjanti meghāḥ samudīrṇa-nādāḥ mattā gajendrā iva saṃyuga-sthāḥ ||

Translation

విద్యుత్తే వారి పతాక, బకుల వరుసలే వారి మాల, శైలేంద్ర శిఖరాల వలె కనిపించే ఆ మేఘాలు ఘోర నాదంతో గర్జిస్తున్నాయి—యుద్ధస్థలంలో నిలిచిన మత్త గజేంద్రుల వలె।

Word by Word

vidyut-patākāḥwith lightning as banners

sa-balāka-mālāḥwith garlands of herons

śailendra-kūṭa-ākṛti-sannikāśāḥresembling the shapes of lofty mountain peaks

garjantiroar, rumble

meghāḥclouds

samudīrṇa-nādāḥwith loud, raised sounds

mattāḥintoxicated, excited

gajendrāḥlordly elephants

ivalike

saṃyuga-sthāḥstanding in battle

Context

The clouds that resemble high mountain peaks, having their banners of lightning with rows of herons as garlands give out loud peals of thunder like elephants in rut trumpet in battle-array.

Characters & Entities

clouds (megha)

lightning (vidyut)

mountain peaks (śailendra-kūṭa)

elephants (gajendra)

FAQs

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

Power must be rightly directed: the imagery of battle-array suggests that strength (like thunderous clouds or elephants) is meaningful when ordered and purposeful, not chaotic.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama portrays the monsoon clouds as a martial procession—peaks, banners, garlands, and roaring—making the season vivid and forceful.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage tempered by order: the ideal of disciplined strength.