Shloka 24

वर्षावर्णनम्

The Monsoon Description and Rama’s Counsel on Timing

Devanagari script

बालेन्द्रगोपान्तरचित्रितेनविभाति भूमिर्नवशाद्वलेन।गात्रानुपृक्तेन शुकप्रभेणनारीव लाक्षोक्षितकम्बलेन।।

Transliteration

bālendra-gopāntara-citritena vibhāti bhūmir nava-śādvalena | gātrānupṛktena śuka-prabheṇa nārīva lākṣokṣita-kambalena ||

Translation

大地因新生嫩草而明丽，其间点点缀着小小因陀罗瞿波虫；宛如一位女子披着鹦鹉般的翠绿衣裳，又洒上红色紫胶粉。

Word by Word

• bāla-indragopa-antara-citritena: dotted with small indragopa insects
• bāla-indragopa-antara-citritena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla + indragopa + antara + citrita (कृदन्त; √citr चित्रणे/वर्णने)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa chain: 'variegated/dotted (citrita) with intervals/spaces (antara) of small indragopa insects (bāla-indragopa)'

• vibhāti: shines
• vibhāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√bhā (भा धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• bhūmiḥ: the ground
• bhūmiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• nava-śādvalena: with fresh grass
• nava-śādvalena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nava + śādvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; Karmadhāraya: 'fresh grass'

• gātra-anupṛktena: touched/tinged on the body
• gātra-anupṛktena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gātra + anu-√pṛc (पृच्/पृञ्ज् धातु, संसर्गे) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: gātraiḥ anupṛktam (touched/tinged on the body); PPP (क्त)

• śuka-prabhena: with parrot-green hue
• śuka-prabhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuka + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: śukasya prabhā (parrot-green lustre)

• nārī: a woman
• nārī: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle

• lākṣā-ukṣita-kambalena: with a cloth sprinkled with lac
• lākṣā-ukṣita-kambalena: Upamāna-karaṇa (उपमानकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lākṣā + ukṣita (कृदन्त; √ukṣ उक्ष् धातु, सिञ्चने) + kambala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular (kambala-); Tatpuruṣa: kambalena lākṣayā ukṣitena (with a cloth sprinkled with lac-dye); ukṣita as PPP (क्त)

Context

'The earth shines with fresh-grown, tender grass speckled here and there with small Indragopa insects. It appears like a woman wearing a parrot-green veil sprinkled with red lac dye.

Characters & Entities

• earth (bhūmi)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring the world as sacred and orderly: the renewed earth is portrayed with dignity and beauty, encouraging truthful reverence for creation rather than exploitation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama points out how the monsoon renews the ground—new grass and red speckles of insects—using a vivid feminine simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and sensitivity: a refined gaze that sees ethical meaning in beauty and renewal.