जय श्रीराम!
प्रभावस्तम्भितच्छायमाश्रितः स वनस्पतिम् ।
कदाचिदङ्के सीतायाः शिश्ये किञ्चिदिव श्रमात् ॥१२.२१॥
Notes: Kālidāsa introduces his poetic moment into the narrative. It is a hot day, and Śrīrāma and Sītā have been hunting and gathering throughout the day. They now decide to rest under a Peepal tree with its luxurious shade. Śrīrāma is so tired he lies down with his head in Sītā's lap.... and the shade of the tree lies still to cover him with coolness.
Kālidāsa says,
"Śrīrāma lay in Sītā's lap, dozing off a bit from tiredness, under the shade of the large Peepal tree whose shade was arrested by Śrīrāma's greatness."
The Ikṣvākus were descended from the sun, and the Sūryavaṃśīs' most famous descendent was Śrīrāma. The shade of a tree, and even the movement of the shade, is governed by the sun. No wonder that in Kālidāsa's mind, the tree held his shade steady like a royal umbrella over the great scion of the solar dynasty, paying tribute to his glory!
***
जय श्रीराम!
