Sanskrit Poetry Verses : Childhood memories

20th April 2025 - Raviteja Gullapalli

Radiance and Serenity

Original Sanskrit Verse

दशायमान सुमहास कदम्बवनवास कुसुम्भ सुमनो
वास विपञ्ची कृतरस विदूय मधु मसरविन्द मधुर
कासरसून तटिभासा अभिराम तनुर असर शीत करुण
नासमणि प्रवरभासा शिव तिमिरमसादयेदुपरति।

(daśāyamāna sumahāsa kadambavanavāsa kuśumbha sumanovāsa vipañcī kṛtarasa vidūya madhu masaravinda madhura kāsarasūna ṭaṭibhāsā abhirāma tanur asara śīta karuṇa nāsamaṇi pravarabhāsā śiva timiramasādayed uparati।)

 

English Translation and Explanation

Beaming with a radiant smile, dwelling in the kadamba groves,
adorned with kusumbha and sumana flowers,
her fragrance surpassing the sweetness of spring blossoms,
as though the music of the vipañcī (a string instrument) has come alive in her aura.

She washes away the fatigue of summer with the charm of blooming lotuses,
her glow like the banks of a moonlit pond,
her graceful body exudes a gentle, selfless coolness like moonlight,
and the brightness of the gem on her nose
may dispel the darkness of sorrow and lead us to inner peace.

Poetic Beauty and Meaning

This verse is a perfect blend of śṛṅgāra (aesthetic of beauty and love) and śānta (serenity). The poet paints a portrait of a serene, luminous maiden whose mere presence brings emotional and spiritual calm. The metaphors move from nature to emotion, from external beauty to internal tranquility.

Elements like the kadamba forest, kusumbha flowers, lotus ponds, and moonlight are rich in classical Indian symbolism. The reference to the nose gem dispelling darkness is metaphorical for inner transformation — beauty that leads to liberation. The syntax flows like music, echoing the effect of a vipañcī being played in the background of a moonlit lotus grove.

Closing Reflection

This poem offers more than just a description of beauty — it is an invitation to calm, to reflection, and to recognizing the harmony of the natural and emotional world. It reminds us that poetry, especially in Sanskrit, was not just art — it was a path to inner stillness.

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— Curated for the love of languages