नृत्यत्युत्ताण्डवं चण्डे लोले लोभकलापिनि । सुविकासिनि सास्फोटे ह्यनर्थकुटजद्रुमे ॥ ४ ॥
nṛtyatyuttāṇḍavaṁ caṇḍē lōlē lōbhakalāpini | suvikāsini sāsphōṭē hyanarthakuṭajadrumē || 4 ||
Translation
when the fierce, restless peacock of greed dances its wild dance; when the kuṭaja tree of misfortune is in full bloom, bursting open with a crackle;
Word by word
- nṛtyati
- dances
- uttāṇḍavaṁ
- its wild dance
- caṇḍē
- fierce
- lōlē
- restless
- lōbha
- of greed
- kalāpini
- the peacock
- suvikāsini
- is in full bloom
- sāsphōṭē
- bursting open with a crackle
- hi
- indeed
- anartha
- of misfortune
- kuṭaja
- the kuṭaja
- drumē
- tree
Meaning
In the rains the peacock dances, and the kuṭaja tree breaks into white flower. Both are signs of the season, and here both are dark. Greed (lobha) is the peacock, wild and showy (uttāṇḍava, a frenzied tāṇḍava), and it dances exactly when the storm is worst. Misfortune (anartha) is the kuṭaja, its buds bursting with a crackle, the commentary says, all at once. The verse sees that greed does not wait for good times; it dances in the storm. The reader may notice when their own wanting is loudest: often when things are going worst.