Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 16

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

हनूमता वेगवता कम्पितास्ते नगोत्तमाः।पुष्पपर्णफलान्याशु मुमुचुः पुष्पशालिनः।।।।

Transliteration

hanūmatā vegavatā kampitās te nagottamāḥ |

puṣpaparṇaphalāny āśu mumucuḥ puṣpaśālinaḥ ||

Translation

Shaken by swift Hanumān, even those great trees—laden with blossoms—quickly let fall flowers, leaves, and fruits.

Word by Word

• हनूमता: by Hanuman
• हनूमता: करण (Karana/Instrument; agent causing shaking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनूमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वेगवता: swift
• वेगवता: विशेषण (Qualifier of हनूमता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हनूमता विशेषण

• कम्पिताः: shaken
• कम्पिताः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कम्पित (कम्प् धातु, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नगोत्तमाः विशेषण

• ते: those
• ते: विशेषण (Qualifier of नगोत्तमाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नगोत्तमाः विशेषण

• नग-उत्तमाः: excellent trees
• नग-उत्तमाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject of मुमुचुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नग (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास: उत्तमाः नगाः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पुष्प-पर्ण-फलानि: flowers, leaves, and fruits
• पुष्प-पर्ण-फलानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (copulative): पुष्पाणि च पर्णानि च फलानि च; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• मुमुचुः: they dropped/let fall
• मुमुचुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुष्प-शालिनः: full of flowers
• पुष्प-शालिनः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + शालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: पुष्पैः शालिनः (abounding in flowers); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नगोत्तमाः विशेषण

Context

Deserted by the flocks of birds resting on them (flowers and leaves also dropped from branches), the trees were left bare with trunks unable to move.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is steadfast execution of duty: Hanumān’s force is not self-indulgence but directed action in service of a truthful cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān’s movement through the grove causes even the largest trees to drop their natural adornments.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śaurya (courageous energy) combined with unwavering resolve.