Syzygium cumini (Java plum)
| A medium-sized to large tree, 15-30 m in height with smooth light grey bark having dark patches; leaves simple, opposite, variable in shape, about 2.5 cm broad about 7.5-15 cm long, acuminate, nerves joining in a distinct intermarginal nerve, gland-dotted, smooth and shiny; flowers greenish-white in trichotomous panicles; fruits oblong or ovoid-oblong, dark purple with pinkish juicy pulp; one-seeded. Flowering-fruiting February to July. (Ashok Sheth (Ed.). 2005 The herbs of ayurveda vol.4 Gujarat : Ashok Sheth. p1082) |
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तस्यास्तिक्तैर्वनगजमदैर्वासितं वान्तवृष्टिर् जम्बूकुञ्जप्रतिहतरयं तोयमादाय गच्छेः । अन्तःसारं घन तुलयितुं नानिलः शक्ष्यति त्वां रिक्तः सर्वो भवति हि लघुः पूर्णता गौरवाय ॥ २० ॥ The river’s current is fragrant from the bitter passion of the wild elephants; |
At the Revā river, in the cloud’s journey. Jambū here is serving like a boul or a glass for the cloud to drink water. I have translated ‘passion’ but the term Mada actually also has a specific meaning of “an ichorous fluid exuding from the temples of elephants in rut” (Kale 1999: 40). It seems to me that the powerfulness of the now-full cloud may derive partly from the sexual scent added to the water. [Reference: Kale, M. R. 1999. The Meghadūta of Kālidāsa. Corrected Edition. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited] |
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पाण्डुच्छायोपवनवृतयः केतकैः सूचिभिन्नैर् नीडारम्भैर्गृहबलिभुजामाकुलग्रामचैत्याः । त्वय्यासन्ने परिणतफलश्यामजम्बूवनान्ताः संपत्स्यन्ते कतिपयदिनस्थायिहंसा दशार्णाः ॥ २३ ॥ The country of Daśārna will rejoice your approach; きみの訪れに、ダシャールナ国では 庭の生垣が先割れたケータカで白み |
In the cloud’s journey. A contrast made between the white Ketaka flowers and the black Jambū fruits. |
(c) Tomomi Sato 2013
Plants of Meghaduta 