Post No. 11,730
Date uploaded in London – – 30 JANUARY 2023
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
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tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan
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Valmiki stands unique among the ancient poets of the world. The beauty is that he describes natural sceneries even in the places where the characters are feeling sadness.
The Kishkinda Kanda begins with the sloka/couplet saying Rama shed tears thinking of Sita, who is abducted by the demon Ravana. Here are the slokas where Rama praises the Nature.
One or two linguistic points:
The word PAMPA must be an ancient word. It is used for Rivers, plains, hills around the world from Sabarimala in Kerala to South America.
Arriving with Laksmana at the lake filled with lotuses, lilies and fishes, Rama, his senses oppressed, burst into tears. 4-1-1
स तां पुष्करिणीं गत्वा पद्मोत्पलझषाकुलाम्।
रामस्सौमित्रि सहितो विललापाकुलेन्द्रियः।। (4-1-1)
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CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER
O Saumitri (Saumitri is Lakshmana, Rama’s younger brother)
Pampa looks beautiful with its water clear as vaidurya (Cats Eye Gem stone), its lilies and lotuses in full bloom and its trees in all their variety.
सौमित्रे शोभते पम्पा वैदूर्यविमलोदका।
फुल्लपद्मोत्पलवती शोभिता विविधैर्द्रुमैः।।4.1.3।।
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VERY TALL TREES
O Saumitri look at the pleasant forest around Pampa where trees stand splendid like mountain peaks.
सौमित्रे पश्य पम्पायाः काननं शुभदर्शनम्।
यत्र राजन्ति शैला वा द्रुमास्सशिखरा इव।।4.1.4।।
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GRIEF STRIKEN PEOPLE MUST BE TAKEN TO NATURAL BEAUTY SPOTS
Though stricken with grief, I feel so delighted to see the auspicious Pampa with its wonderful forest and cool water scattered with flowers.
शोकार्तस्यापि मे पम्पा शोभते चित्रकानना।
व्यवकीर्णा बहुविधैः पुष्पैश्शीतोदका शिवा।।4.1.6।।
HERE IS LESSON IN PSYCHOLOGY. In Western countries all patients suffering from mental sickness are given strong medicines which make them really sick. But Hindus take them to temples and they get cured in 6 months. In those days temples were surrounded by nature, now they became big commercial centres.
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SNAKES ARE ENJOYABLE
Abounding in lotuses, birds and beasts and vicious serpents moving about, it looks splendid indeed.
नलिनैरपि सञ्छन्ना ह्यत्यर्थशुभदर्शना।
सर्पव्यालानुचरिता मृगद्विजसमाकुला।।4.1.7।।
Note the poet is using different words for lotus in Sanskrit.
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FLOWERY CARPET
The bluish yellow grass, dotted with different kinds of flowers fallen from the trees shines like a carpet spread.
अधिकं प्रविभात्येतन्नीलपीतं तु शाद्वलम्।
द्रुमाणां विविधैः पुष्पैः परिस्तोमैरिवार्पितम्।।4.1.8।।
Nature is kaleidoscopic ; actually human beings got the idea of designing clothes and carpets only from Nature. Sangam Tamil poems described clothes with flowering designs. We see the flowery shawl on the Yogi figure of Indus – Sarasvati Valley .
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TREE TOP FLOWERS
Entwined with flowering creepers the treetops are covered all over with rich loads of flowers.
पुष्पभारसमृद्धानि शिखराणि समन्ततः।
लताभिः पुष्पिताग्राभिरुपगूढानि सर्वशः।।4.1.9।।
The climbers and creepers with differently coloured flowers go to the top of the trees to show its flowers.
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SPRING SEASON
‘O Saumitri it is the season of spring. The trees are laden with fruits and fragrant flowers. Ecstatic blows the gentle freeze.
सुखानिलोऽयं सौमित्रे कालः प्रचुरमन्मथः।
गन्धवान्सुरभिर्मासो जातपुष्पफलद्रुमः।।4.1.10।।
Valmiki is very keen to give us the Time and Location. He maintains it throughout Ramayana.
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SHOWERY FLOWERY
‘Look at the flowering trees sending showers of flowers like water dropping from the clouds, O Saumitri
पश्य रूपाणि सौमित्रे वनानां पुष्पशालिनाम्।
सृजतां पुष्पवर्षाणि तोयं तोयमुचामिव।।4.1.11।।
THE POET HAS NOTED THE SHOWER OF FLOWERS FALLLING CONTINUOSLY FROM THE TALL TREES.
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Various forest trees shaken by the force of the wind scatter flowers on the beautiful rocky surface of earth.
प्रस्तरेषु च रम्येषु विविधाः काननद्रुमाः।
वायुवेगप्रचलिताः पुष्पैरवकिरन्ति गाम्।।4.1.12।।
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VISUAL TO AUDIO
“As the wind shakes the flowers off the branches of various trees the bees bumble in tune with the (whistling) wind.
विक्षिपन्विविधाश्शाखा नगानां कुसुमोत्कचाः।
मारुतश्चलितस्थानैष्षट्पदैरनुगीयते।।4.1.14।।
Now the poet describe the music of the forest. Buzzing of the bees and beetles are very familiar with forest dwellers but a strange experience for a newcomer.
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FOREST ORCHESTRA
“As if the trees are dancing to the music of the cuckoos and to the sound of the wind coming out of the mountain-caves.
मत्तकोकिलसन्नादैर्नर्तयन्निव पादपान्।
शैलकन्दरनिष्क्रान्तः प्रगीत इव चानिलः।।4.1.15।।
Sangam Tamils named even a book on the sounds of the forest MALAIPADU KADAAM. Throughput Sangam literature and earlier Kalidas works we see Nature and its orchestra in the forest.
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“Shaken by the strong wind all over, the tops of trees look as if they are knitted together.
तेन विक्षिपताऽत्यर्थं पवनेन समन्ततः।
अमी संसक्तशाखाग्रा ग्रथिता इव पादपाः।।4.1.16।।
People who have seen films like Tarzan would have noticed the intertwining of tree branches. Not much sun light is allowed through them. This is also noted by the poet.
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FRAGRANCE OF THE FOREST
‘The gentle touch of the breeze that blows, cool like sandalwood, full of pure fragrance, takes away the fatigue of the body.
स एष सुखसंस्पर्शो वाति चन्दनशीतलः।
गन्धमभ्यवहन्पुण्यं श्रमापनयनोऽनिलः।।4.1.17।।
Now the poet leaves the audio, visual effects and touches the fragrant smell. Kishkinda was in Karnataka, and a few people believe it was Tirupati Hills. South India is famous for its fragrant Sandal wood.
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SINGING AND DANCING
As if the trees are singing, swayed by the wind, while the bees in the forest, fragrant with honey, hum in tune.
अमी पवनविक्षिप्ता विनदन्तीव पादपाः।
षट्पदैरनुकूजन्तो वनेषु मधुगन्धिषु।।4.1.18।।
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‘The huge trees in the scenic mountain ranges look delightful with their blossoms touching the peaks.
गिरिप्रस्थेषु रम्येषु पुष्पवद्भिर्मनोरमैः।
संसक्तशिखराश्शैला विराजन्ते महाद्रुमैः।।4.1.19।।
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With the tops of trees covered with flowers, the black bees hovering (humming) over them, the trees, shaken by the restless wind look like singers. (The trees with the top decked with flowers, the bees like black hair on the head swaying in the wind look like dancing and singing)
पुष्पसञ्छन्नशिखरा मारुतोत्क्षेपचञ्चलाः।
अमी मधुकरोत्तंसाः प्रगीता इव पादपाः।।4.1.20।।
Paadapaahaa पादपाः for trees is a beautiful word . it means those who drink with their feet. We drink through our mouth. Trees drink water through their feet= roots!
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TREES ARE PEOPLE WITH SILK AND JEWELLERY
‘See these Karnikaras in full bloom all over, looking like people clad in yellow silk adorned with golden ornaments.
सुपुष्पितांस्तु पश्येमान्कर्णिकारांत्समन्ततः।
हाटकप्रतिसञ्छन्नान्नरान्पीताम्बरानिव।।4.1.21।।
This is a beautiful description. Kalidasa says Shakuntala even gave her favourites names to the plants. Sangam literature says a girl refused to make love under a particular tree because it is like her sister. Any girl with modesty wont do that in front of her own sister, she said.
There are stories which say that Lord Shiva adopted some trees as his own sons.
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SEASON OF HOLI AND KAMAN PANDIKAI
‘O Saumitri this spring season resonating with the sounds of several kinds of birds, kindles my anguish as I am separated from Sita.
अयं वसन्तस्सौमित्रे नानाविहगनादितः।
सीतया विप्रहीनस्य शोकसन्दीपनो मम।।4.1.22।।
Spring is the season of lovers. Holi and Kaaman (Manmata) Festival re celebrated during spring season throughout India. Rama reminds it to his brother Lakshmana..
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KINDS OF BIRDS
‘See, the different kinds of birds flying towards trees, shrubs and vines making wonderful sounds all over.
एवं विचित्राः पतगा नानारावविराविणः।
वृक्षगुल्मलताः पश्य सम्पतन्ति समन्ततः।।4.1.26।।
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‘O Lakshmana the female birds praised by their flocks, are united with their male partners. Enjoying the sweet sounds of large black bees, they are singing melodiously.
विमिश्रा विहगाः पुम्भिरात्मव्यूहाभिनन्दिताः।
भृङ्गराजप्रमुदितास्सौमित्रे मधुरस्वनाः।।4.1.27।।
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These trees seem to enkindle my passion through all sorts of sounds like the loud cackle of swamphens and the sweet warble of the male cuckoos.
दात्यूहरतिविक्रन्दैः पुंस्कोकिलरुतैरपि।
स्वनन्ति पादपाश्चेमे ममानङ्गप्रदीपनाः।।4.1.28।।
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COLOUR EFFECTS
‘The fire of spring with clusters of Asoka flowers as its charcoal, its copper coloured tender leaves as flames, the buzz of bees as its crackle will, as if, consume me.
अशोकस्तबकाङ्गारष्षट्पदस्वननिःस्वनः।
मां हि पल्लवताम्रार्चिर्वसन्ताग्निः प्रधक्ष्यति।।4.1.29।।
In about 25 couplets Valmiki gives us a beautiful description of the spring season inside forest.
—subham—
Tags- Valmiki, Nature, Spring, Kishkinda kanda, Pampa
Tamil and Vedas 