Shloka 14
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।।
nānāninādair udyānaṃ ramyaṃ mṛgagaṇair dvijaiḥ |
anekagandhapravahaṃ puṇyagandhaṃ manoramam || 5.15.14 ||
Jener bezaubernde Garten widerhallte von vielerlei Lauten, erfüllt von Tierherden und Vogelscharen; Lüfte trugen mannigfache Düfte herbei, einen heiligen Wohlgeruch, der das Herz erfreute.
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
The ‘sacred fragrance’ imagery reinforces that Dharma is aligned with harmony and life-affirming order; yet the story soon reveals how such harmony is violated by wrongful captivity—highlighting the need to restore righteousness.
Continuing description of the Ashoka Grove’s atmosphere—sounds, animals, birds, and fragrances—while Hanuman searches for Sītā.
Attentiveness and careful observation (sūkṣma-darśitā) in Hanuman is implied: he reads the environment precisely as part of his mission.