Shloka 5.15.12
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।।
ativṛttam ivācintyaṃ divyaṃ ramyaṃ śriyā vṛtam |
vitīyam iva cākāśaṃ puṣpajyotirgaṇāyutam || 5.15.12 ||
It seemed to surpass all measure—unthinkable in splendour, divine and delightful, encircled by brilliance; like a second sky it was filled with countless lights, the radiance of blossoms.
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
The verse indirectly supports Dharma by portraying the setting where Hanuman’s righteous mission unfolds: the extraordinary beauty heightens the contrast with Sītā’s suffering, underscoring that true righteousness protects the vulnerable even amid outward splendour.
Hanuman is surveying the Ashoka Grove in Laṅkā; the poet describes the grove’s almost heavenly brilliance as Hanuman closes in on finding Sītā.
Hanuman’s focused discernment (viveka) is implied: he can move through dazzling, distracting splendour while remaining intent on his duty to locate Sītā.