Shloka 5.15.11
अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम् (Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove)
नन्दनं विविधोद्यानं चित्रं चैत्ररथं यथा।।।।अतिवृत्तमिवाचिन्त्यं दिव्यं रम्यं श्रिया वृतम्।वितीयमिव चाकाशं पुष्पज्योतिर्गणायुतम्।।।।पुष्परत्नशतैश्चित्रं द्वितीयं सागरं यथा।सर्वर्तुपुष्पैर्निचितं पादपैर्मधुगन्धिभिः।।।।नानानिनादैरुद्यानं रम्यं मृगगणैर्द्विजैः।अनेकगन्धप्रवहं पुण्यगन्धं मनोरमम्।।।।
nandanaṃ vividhodyānaṃ citraṃ caitrarathaṃ yathā | ativṛttam ivācintyaṃ divyaṃ ramyaṃ śriyā vṛtam | vitīyam iva cākāśaṃ puṣpajyotir-gaṇāyutam || puṣpa-ratna-śataiś citraṃ dvitīyaṃ sāgaraṃ yathā | sarvartu-puṣpair nicitaṃ pādapair madhu-gandhibhiḥ || nānā-ninādair udyānaṃ ramyaṃ mṛga-gaṇair dvijaiḥ | aneka-gandha-pravahaṃ puṇya-gandhaṃ manoramam ||
That diverse, splendid garden looked like Indra’s Nandana and Kubera’s wondrous Caitraratha—beyond imagination, divine and delightful, encircled by radiant beauty. It seemed like a second sky filled with countless lights, the star-like glow of blossoms; and like another ocean adorned with hundreds of jewel-like flowers. It was thick with trees flowering in every season, sweet with honeyed fragrance; charming with many sounds from herds of animals and flocks of birds, and made lovely by streams of varied aromas, a sacred perfume that gladdened the heart.
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 honey-scented fragrance. Sounds of animals and birds filled the air. It was pleasing to the heart with various divine fragrances wafted (by the breeze)৷৷
The verse highlights a moral contrast: even a place of extraordinary beauty can be used in the service of adharma (Sītā’s captivity). Dharma requires seeing beyond appearances and aligning power and wealth with righteousness and truth.
The narration expands on the Aśoka grove’s grandeur, comparing it to divine gardens, as Hanumān surveys the environment where Sītā is believed to be held.
Discernment (viveka): the ability—especially in Hanumān’s mission—to recognize that splendor does not equal virtue, and to remain committed to the truthful, dharmic goal.