Shloka 4.50.27
ऋक्षबिलप्रवेशः — Entry into the Rikshabilam Cave
ततस्तं देशमागम्य सौम्या वितिमिरं वनम्।।4.50.24।।ददृशुः काञ्चनान्वृक्षान्दीप्तवैश्वानरप्रभान्।सालां स्तालांश्च पुन्नागान्ककुभान्वञ्जुलान्धवान्।।4.50.25।।चम्पकान् नागवृक्षांश्च कर्णिकारांश्च पुष्पितान्।स्तबकैः काञ्चनैश्चित्रै रक्तै: किसलयैस्तथा।।4.50.26।।आपीडैश्च लताभिश्च हेमाभरणभूषितान्।तरुणादित्यसङ्काशान्वैढूर्यकृतवेदिकान्।।4.50.27।।विभ्राजमानान्वपुषा पादपांश्च हिरण्मयान्।नीलवैढूर्यवर्णाश्च पद्मिनीः पतगावृताः।।4.50.28।।महद्भि: काञ्चनैः पद्मैर्वृता बालार्कसन्निभैः।
āpīḍaiś ca latābhiś ca hemābharaṇabhūṣitān |
taruṇādityasaṅkāśān vaiḍūryakṛtavedikān ||4.50.27||
They beheld trees crowned with entwining creepers, adorned as though with golden ornaments—radiant like the young rising sun—and having platforms and altars fashioned with vaidūrya (cat’s-eye gemstone).
Having reached inside the cave the monkeys saw a forest shining like blazing fire, dispelling the surrounding darkness. There they noticed sala, tala, tamala, punnaga, vanjjula, dhava, champaka, and naga trees. They also saw blossoming plants of Karnikara, bunches of beautiful golden flowers and tender redcoloured leaves.They saw wonderful trees with creepers on top entwining them, and ornamented with gold (like golden fruits), radiant like the dazzling rising Sun. There were altars encrusted with precious sapphire and vaidurya. The golden trees were shining bright. There were lotus creepers looking like sapphire and vaidurya.The ponds were filled with golden lotuses and were surrounded by birds.
In the Ramayana, truthful narration (satya) includes faithful description of what is witnessed; such precise depiction supports the ethical frame of the epic by grounding later choices in a real, observed context rather than exaggeration or deceit.
The imagery underscores that the world can appear richly endowed, yet Dharma requires discernment: beauty and splendour are not themselves the goal, but a setting in which characters must remain steady in right conduct and truthfulness.