Shloka 13
अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्
Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove
नन्दनं विविधोद्यानं चित्रं चैत्ररथं यथा।।5.15.11।।अतिवृत्तमिवाचिन्त्यं दिव्यं रम्यं श्रिया वृतम्।वितीयमिव चाकाशं पुष्पज्योतिर्गणायुतम्।।5.15.12।।पुष्परत्नशतैश्चित्रं द्वितीयं सागरं यथा।सर्वर्तुपुष्पैर्निचितं पादपैर्मधुगन्धिभिः।।5.15.13।।नानानिनादैरुद्यानं रम्यं मृगगणैर्द्विजैः।अनेकगन्धप्रवहं पुण्यगन्धं मनोरमम्।।5.15.14।।
puṣparatnaśataiś citraṃ dvitīyaṃ sāgaraṃ yathā |
sarvartupuṣpair nicitaṃ pādapair madhugandhibhiḥ || 5.15.13 ||
Er wirkte wundersam, wie ein zweites Meer, das mit Hunderten juwelenhafter Blüten glitzerte; dicht erfüllt von Bäumen, die zu jeder Jahreszeit blühten, süß vom honiggleichen Duft.
The grove with different types of gardens spread over looked like the Nandana garden of Indra and Chaitraratha garden of Kubera. It surpassed every other garden. It was unimaginable in splendour. It was divine and delightful filled with the radiance of countless varieties of blossoms shining like stars, like a second firmament. It was like another ocean filled with precious gems of flowers. It had trees with flowers of honeyscented fragrance. Sounds of animals and birds filled the air. It was pleasing to the heart with various divine fragrances wafted (by the breeze)৷৷
FAQs
Dharma is framed through contrast: even in a place of overflowing beauty and pleasure, adharma (Rāvaṇa’s captivity of Sītā) persists—teaching that righteousness is not measured by luxury but by conduct.
The grove is being described as Hanuman searches within it; the poet emphasizes abundance of blossoms and fragrance.
Steadfastness in duty (kartavya-niṣṭhā) is implied in Hanuman: sensory richness does not divert him from his moral task.