Shloka 4

वर्षावर्णनम्

The Monsoon Description and Rama’s Counsel on Timing

Devanagari script

शक्यमम्बरमारुह्य मेघसोपानपङ्क्तिभिः।कुटजार्जुनमालाभिरलङ्कर्तुं दिवाकरम्।।

Transliteration

śakyam ambaram āruhya meghasopānapaṅktibhiḥ |

kuṭajārjunamālābhir alaṅkartuṃ divākaram ||

Translation

ดูประหนึ่งว่าสามารถไต่ขึ้นสู่เวหาด้วยแถวขั้นบันไดแห่งเมฆา แล้วนำพวงมาลัยดอกกุฏชะและอรชุนไปคล้องประดับองค์พระสุริยเทพได้

Word by Word

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śak (शक् धातु) + ya (यत्/ण्यत्)
• Form: Potential/feasibility adjective (शक्य), Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular; impersonal predicate ‘it is possible’

• ambaram: sky
• ambaram: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; object of āruhya

• āruhya: having climbed
• āruhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√ruh (रुह् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• megha-sopāna-paṅktibhiḥ: by rows of cloud-stairways
• megha-sopāna-paṅktibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक) + sopāna (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅkti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (मेघानां सोपानपङ्क्तयः); Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural; means

• kuṭaja-arjuna-mālābhiḥ: with garlands of kutaja and arjuna (flowers)
• kuṭaja-arjuna-mālābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭaja (प्रातिपदिक) + arjuna (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva within first members (कुटज + अर्जुन) + tatpuruṣa with mālā; Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural

• alaṅkartum: to adorn
• alaṅkartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: alaṃ-√kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), expresses purpose

• divākaram: the sun
• divākaram: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; object of alaṅkartum

Context

'It is possible to climb up to the sky on the stairs formed by the clouds and decorate the Sun-god with garlands made of kutaja and arjuna flowers.

Characters & Entities

• Sun (Divakara)
• clouds
• kuṭaja
• arjuna (tree/flower)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as reverent imagination disciplined by truth: nature’s grandeur inspires devotion and humility rather than arrogance. The verse channels wonder into respect for cosmic order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama describes towering monsoon clouds as if they were steps to the heavens, emphasizing the season’s dramatic scale.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and devotion: even the Sun is spoken of as worthy of adornment, reflecting a worldview where greatness invites reverence, not domination.