Shloka 41

शरत्प्रवेशे रामविलापः तथा सुग्रीवप्रमादे लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम्

Autumn’s Onset: Rama’s Lament and Lakshmana Sent to Sugriva

Devanagari script

वित्रास्य कारण्डवचक्रवाकान्महारवैर्भिन्नकटा गजेन्द्राः।सरस्सु बद्धाम्बुजभूषणेषुविक्षोभ्य विक्षोभ्य जलं पिबन्ति।।

Transliteration

vitrāsya kāraṇḍavacakravākān mahāravair bhinnakaṭā gajendrāḥ | sarassu baddhāmbujabhūṣaṇeṣu vikṣobhya vikṣobhya jalaṃ pibanti ||

Translation

发情的巨象以震耳的长鸣惊扰鸭群与鸳鸯（cakravāka）；在莲花为饰的湖泊中，它们一次又一次搅动水面，随后才饮水。

Word by Word

• vitrāsya: having frightened
• vitrāsya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-√tras (धातु; 'त्रस्' to frighten)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययम् (gerund); 'having terrified'

• kāraṇḍava-cakravākān: ducks and cakravāka birds
• kāraṇḍava-cakravākān: Karma (कर्म/Object of vitrāsya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇḍava (प्रातिपदिक) + cakravāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमासः (इतरेतर); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्

• mahā-ravaiḥ: with loud roars
• mahā-ravaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• bhinna-kaṭāḥ: with split/oozing temples (in rut)
• bhinna-kaṭāḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhinna (कृदन्त; √bhid 'भिद्' क्त) + kaṭa (प्रातिपदिक; here 'temple/cheek' of elephant, ichor-flowing)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; गजेन्द्राः विशेषयति

• gajendrāḥ: lordly elephants
• gajendrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• sarassu: in lakes
• sarassu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम् (Vedic/epic locative plural form)

• baddha-ambuja-bhūṣaṇeṣu: in (lakes) adorned with lotuses
• baddha-ambuja-bhūṣaṇeṣu: Adhikaraṇa-viśeṣaṇa (अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: baddha (कृदन्त; √bandh 'बन्ध्' क्त) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमासः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्; सरस्सु विशेषणम्—'येषु अम्बुजानि भूषणत्वेन बद्धानि' (ornamented with lotuses)

• vikṣobhya: having churned/stirred
• vikṣobhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-√kṣubh (धातु; 'क्षुभ्' to agitate)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययम्; पुनरुक्तिः (repetition) for intensity

• vikṣobhya: having stirred repeatedly
• vikṣobhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-√kṣubh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययम्; द्विरुक्तिः (again and again)

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• pibanti: drink
• pibanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु; 'पा' to drink)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Context

'Excellent elephants in rut, with ichor exuding from their temples trumpet, frightening the ducks and chakravaka birds in the water. Strirring the water in the lakes, ornamented with lotuses, they drink it.

Characters & Entities

• cakravāka birds
• lakes (saras)
• lotuses (ambuja)

FAQs

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

It illustrates how unchecked power can unsettle the weak; Dharmic strength protects rather than terrorizes, even when one is capable of domination.

What is the narrative situation?

A naturalistic scene in autumn: rutting elephants loudly dominate lotus-lakes, scattering waterbirds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implied ideal: compassion and restraint in the use of strength.