Shloka 5.15.3

अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम् (Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove)

Devanagari script

सन्तानकलताभिश्च पादपैरुपशोभिताम्।दिव्यगन्धरसोपेतां सर्वतस्समलङ्कृताम्।।5.15.2।।तां स नन्दनसङ्काशां मृगपक्षिभिरावृताम्।हर्म्यप्रासादसम्बाधां कोकिलाकुलनिस्स्वनाम्।।5.15.3।।काञ्चनोत्पलपद्माभिर्वापीभिरुपशोभिताम्।बह्वासनकुथोपेतां बहुभूमिगृहायुताम्।।5.15.4।।सर्वर्तुकुसुमै रम्यां फलवद्भिश्च पादपैः।पुष्पितानामशोकानां श्रिया सूर्योदयप्रभाम्।।5.15.5।।प्रदीप्तामिव तत्रस्थो मारुतिस्समुदैक्षत।निष्पत्रशाखां विहगैः क्रियमाणामिवासकृत्।।5.15.6।।विनिष्पतद्भिः शतशश्चित्रैः पुष्पावतंसकैः।आमूलपुष्पनिचितैरशोकैश्शोकनाशनैः।।5.15.7।।पुष्पभारातिभारैश्च स्पृशद्भिरिव मेदिनीम्।कर्णिकारैः कुसुमितैः किंशुकैश्च सुपुष्पितैः।।5.15.8।।

Transliteration

tāṃ sa nandanasaṅkāśāṃ mṛgapakṣibhir āvṛtām |

harmyaprāsādasambādhāṃ kokilākulanissvanām ||

Translation

He beheld that grove, like Indra’s Nandana garden—filled with deer and birds, crowded with mansions and lofty palaces, and resonant with the calls of many cuckoos.

Context

Hanuman surveyed from the Simsupa tree the Ashoka grove of trees full of fine fragrance. It looked welldecorated like the Nandana garden of Indra. It teemed with animals and birds. It was filled with the voices of the cuckoos. It had tall mansions and underground chamber. There were golden lilies and lotuses in the lakes, enchanting couches with rich coverings and trees full of blossoms of all seasons and fruits in abundance With the Ashoka tree shedding showers of flowers from time to time the place shone with the splendour of Sunrise. It glittered like inflamed fire. The Ashoka tree had hundreds of colourful birds on the branches. It appeared as if it had branches without leaves which made them look like earornaments (of the grove). Ashoka flowers in bloom hung down to the base of the tree as if to take away the grief of the onlookers. The blossoms of the Karnikara and kimsuka brightened the whole grove.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Aśoka-vana (implied: the grove being described)
• Nandana (Indra’s garden)
• Indra (implied by Nandana)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The ethical contrast is implicit: a place of beauty and luxury can still be the setting of adharma when used to confine the innocent; dharma concerns right use and intent, not mere splendor.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān surveys the Aśoka grove in Laṅkā, noting its paradisiacal features as he searches for Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s vigilance and purpose: he observes carefully, staying focused on the righteous mission despite distractions of grandeur.