Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 22
अशोकवनिकाविचारः
Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape
वापीश्च विविधाकाराः पूर्णाः परमवारिणा।महार्हैर्मणिसोपानैरुपपन्नास्ततस्ततः।।।।मुक्ताप्रवालसिकताः स्फाटिकान्तरकुट्टिमाः।काञ्चनैस्तरुभिश्चित्रैस्तीरजैरुपशोभिताः।।।।फुल्लपद्मोत्पलवनाश्चक्रवाकोपकूजिताः।नत्यूहरुतसंघुष्टा हंससारसनादिताः।।।।दीर्घाभिर्द्रुमयुक्ताभिः सरद्भिश्च समन्ततः।अमृतोपमतोयाभिश्शिवाभिरुपसंस्कृताः।।।।लताशतैरवततास्सन्तानकुसुमावृताः।नानागुल्मावृतघनाः करवीरकृतान्तराः।।।।
vāpīś ca vividhākārāḥ pūrṇāḥ paramavāriṇā |
mahārhair maṇisopānair upapannās tatas tataḥ ||
muktāpravālasikatāḥ sphāṭikāntarakuṭṭimāḥ |
kāñcanais tarubhiś citrais tīrajair upaśobhitāḥ ||
phullapadmotpalavanāś cakravākopakūjitāḥ |
natyūharutasaṅghuṣṭā haṃsasārasanāditāḥ ||
dīrghābhir drumayuktābhiḥ saridbhiś ca samantataḥ |
amṛtopamatoyābhiḥ śivābhir upasaṃskṛtāḥ ||
latāśatair avatātāḥ santānakusumāvṛtāḥ |
nānāgulmāvṛtaghanāḥ karavīrakṛtāntarāḥ ||
ورأى بركًا شتّى الأشكال، مملوءةً بماءٍ في غاية الصفاء، مُهيّأةً هنا وهناك بدرجاتٍ نفيسةٍ مرصَّعةٍ بالجواهر. وكانت رمالها كأنها لؤلؤٌ ومرجان، وأرضياتها الداخلية تتلألأ كالكريستال؛ وتزيّنت ضفافها بأشجارٍ ذهبيةٍ ملوّنة. وفيها غياضُ اللوتس والزنابق المائية المتفتّحة، تتردّد فيها نداءاتُ طيورِ التشاكرافاكا، وضجيجُ الناتيُوها، وأصواتُ الإوزّ والبجع وطيورِ الساراسا. ومن حولها جرت جداولُ طويلةٌ تصطفّ الأشجار على جانبيها، بمياهٍ كالرحيق، مباركةٍ ومُحسَنةِ الترتيب؛ وقد انتشر المكان بمئاتِ المتسلّقات، وتغطّى بأزهارِ السانتاناكا، وازدحم بشجيراتٍ شتّى، وتزيّن بفسحاتٍ تميّزها نباتاتُ الكارافيرا.
He observed ponds of different shapes filled with clear water with steps paved with rich gems, with sands of pearls and corals and bottoms of crystal, which contained beds of lotuses in bloom, adorned with chakravaka birds and resonant with cacklings of swans and sarasas and vatyuhas rubbing their beaks. There were golden platforms built on banks and platforms built of crystals. There were trees on the bank of streams, and nectar-like sacred waters flowing in them surrounded by hundreds of creepers, and Ashoka blossoms scattered everywhere, with thickly grown bushes of different kinds, with lilies in bloom in tanks.
FAQs
The verse presents ordered beauty and auspiciousness as a sign of cultivated life; dharma is the harmonizing principle that aligns environment, conduct, and purpose—yet Hanumān remains committed to truth (satya) over aesthetic distraction.
Hanumān surveys the refined water-gardens—ponds, jeweled steps, blooming lotuses, and birds—within the Aśoka grove complex.
Steady attention (ekāgratā): he perceives detail without losing sight of his mission to find Sītā.