Shloka 31

वर्षावर्णनम्

The Monsoon Description and Rama’s Counsel on Timing

Devanagari script

तटित्पताकाभिरलङ्कृतानामुदीर्णगम्भीरमहारवाणाम्।विभान्ति रूपाणि बलाहकानांरणोद्यतानामिव वानरणानाम्।।

Transliteration

taṭitpatākābhir alaṅkṛtānām udīrṇagambhīramahāravāṇām | vibhānti rūpāṇi balāhakānāṃ raṇodyatānām iva vānaraṇām ||

Translation

Nagniningning ang anyo ng mga ulap-ulan—pinalamutian ng kidlat na tila mga watawat at umaalingawngaw sa malalim at makapangyarihang dagundong—na parang mga mandirigmang vānara na handang sumabak sa labanan.

Word by Word

• taṭit-patākābhiḥ: with banners of lightning
• taṭit-patākābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṭit + patākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem), Tṛtīyā (instr, 3rd), Bahuvacana (pl); samāsa: taṭitaḥ patākāḥ (lightning-banners)

• alaṅkṛtānām: of the adorned (ones)
• alaṅkṛtānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alaṅkṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ धातु with alam)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Ṣaṣṭhī (gen, 6th), Bahuvacana; past participle ‘adorned’ qualifying balāhakānām

• udīrṇa-gambhīra-mahā-ravāṇām: of those with a loud deep roar
• udīrṇa-gambhīra-mahā-ravāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udīrṇa + gambhīra + mahā + rava (प्रातिपदिक; udīrṇa as pp of ud-√īr)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Ṣaṣṭhī (gen, 6th), Bahuvacana; samāsa: udīrṇo gambhīro mahān ravaḥ yeṣām (having risen deep great roar)

• vibhānti: shine
• vibhānti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√bhā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• rūpāṇi: forms/appearances
• rūpāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), Prathamā (nom, 1st), Bahuvacana (pl)

• balāhakānām: of the clouds
• balāhakānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balāhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Ṣaṣṭhī (gen, 6th), Bahuvacana (pl)

• raṇa-udyatānām: of those ready for battle
• raṇa-udyatānām: Upamāna-ṣaṣṭhī (उपमानसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raṇa + udyata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; ud-√yam/√yat)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Ṣaṣṭhī (gen, 6th), Bahuvacana; samāsa: raṇe udyatāḥ (ready for battle)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle

• vānaraṇām: of monkeys
• vānaraṇām: Upamāna-ṣaṣṭhī (उपमानसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Ṣaṣṭhī (gen, 6th), Bahuvacana (pl)

Context

'The rain-clouds decorated with banners of lightning and giving out peals of thunder shine like elephants in rut trumpeting, eager to fight in battle.

Characters & Entities

• lightning (taṭit)
• vānara (monkey warriors)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes readiness to protect the righteous: the clouds resemble warriors, hinting that power and sound should serve a just purpose, not mere display.

What is the narrative situation?

The monsoon clouds gather with thunder and lightning; Lakṣmaṇa frames them in martial imagery that resonates with the coming campaign against Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and preparedness (utsāha): being ‘battle-ready’ in service of a rightful cause.