Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
आत्मप्रदानवर्षेण संगमाम्भोधरेण च । शमयस्व वरारोहे ज्वलन्तं मन्मथानलम्
ātmapradānavarṣeṇa saṅgamāmbhodhareṇa ca | śamayāsva varārohe jvalantaṁ manmathānalam ||
โอสตรีผู้สะโพกงาม จงให้เมฆแห่งการร่วมสังวาสหลั่งสายฝนแห่งการมอบตน เพื่อระงับและดับเพลิงมานมถะที่ลุกไหม้อยู่ภายในข้า
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse uses a vivid ethical-psychological metaphor: intense desire is likened to a consuming fire, and it is sought to be calmed by ‘rain’—here framed as self-giving and union. It highlights how passion is experienced as overpowering and how the speaker seeks relief through intimacy rather than restraint.
Within Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a speaker addresses a woman with affectionate honorifics, urging her to pacify his burning passion. The imagery of cloud and rain conveys a plea for closeness that will cool the ‘fire of Kāma’.