प्रमदावनविध्वंसः | The Devastation of the Pleasure-Garden (Ashoka Vatika)
सुन्दरकाण्ड
After being honored by Sītā’s words, Hanumān withdraws and reflects on the remaining objectives of the mission. He evaluates the classical upāyas—sāma (conciliation), dāna (gifts), and bheda (division)—and concludes that against force-proud rākṣasas only daṇḍa/parākrama (coercive power) will disclose their true strength and induce strategic softening. He frames a multi-goal action: without compromising the primary success (finding Sītā), he will generate a controlled disturbance to compel Rāvaṇa to mobilize. Hanumān then praises the Ashoka grove as Nandana-like in beauty, yet resolves to destroy it “like fire in a dry forest,” anticipating that the outrage will trigger deployment of troops with horses, chariots, and elephants, armed with tridents and iron spears. Acting on this intent, he uproots and fells trees, breaks ponds and structures, scatters animals and serpents, and turns the garden into a scene likened to a forest consumed by wildfire—creepers trembling like disarrayed women. Having caused grave displeasure to the lord of Laṅkā, he stations himself at the gateway, blazing in resolve, ready to fight many warriors single-handedly.
Verse 5.41.1
स च वाग्भिः प्रशस्ताभिर्गमिष्यन्पूजितस्तया।तस्माद्देशादपक्रम्य चिन्तयामास वानरः।।।।
Honoured by her excellent words and preparing to depart, the Vānara withdrew from that place and began to reflect.
Verse 5.41.2
अल्पशेषमिदं कार्यं दृष्टेयमसितेक्षणा।त्रीनुपायानतिक्रम्य चतुर्थ: इह विद्यते।।5.41.2।।
That great grove was left disfigured: its vine-arbours and painted pavilions were ruined; great serpents and wild beasts were driven out in confusion; and its stone-houses and other structures were scattered and wrecked.
Verse 5.41.3
न साम रक्षस्सु गुणाय कल्पते न दानमर्थोपचितेषु युज्यते।न भेदसाध्या बलदर्पिता जनाः पराक्रमस्त्वेव ममेह रोचते।।।।
Conciliation brings no benefit with demons; and gifts are not fitting for those already swollen with wealth. People intoxicated by strength do not yield to division either—here, I find only valour to be the effective course.
Verse 5.41.4
न चास्य कार्यस्य पराक्रमादृते विनिश्चयः कश्चिदिहोपपद्यते।हतप्रवीरा हि रणे हि राक्षसाः कथञ्चिदीयुर्यदिहाद्य मार्दवम्।।।।
And for this undertaking, apart from heroic force, no resolution truly holds. If, in battle, a few of the rākṣasas’ champions are struck down, they may somehow soften today and become pliable.
Verse 5.41.5
कार्ये कर्मणि निर्दिष्टे यो बहून्यपि साधयेत्।पूर्वकार्याविरोधेन स कार्यं कर्तुमर्हति।।।।
When a duty has been assigned, the one who can accomplish even many additional aims—without obstructing the original objective—is truly fit to act.
Verse 5.41.6
न ह्येकस्साधको हेतुस्स्वल्पस्यापीह कर्मणः।यो ह्यर्थं बहुधा वेद स समर्थोऽर्थसाधने।।।।
Even for a small task here, there is not just one effective means. One who understands the goal in many ways is able to accomplish it.
Verse 5.41.7
इहैव तावत्कृतनिश्चयो ह्यहं यदि व्रजेयं प्लवगेश्वरालयम्।परात्मसम्मर्दविशेषतत्त्ववित्ततः कृतं स्यान्मम भर्तृशासनम्।।।।
If, having settled my resolve here itself, I were to return to Kiṣkindhā, the abode of the lord of the monkeys—after discerning in battle the specific difference between the enemy’s strength and our own—then my master’s command would have been duly fulfilled.
Verse 5.41.8
कथं नु खल्वद्य भवेत्सुखागतं प्रसह्य युद्धं मम राक्षसैः सह।तथैव खल्वात्मबलं च सारवत्सम्मानयेन्मां च रणे दशाननः।।।।
How indeed can my coming here end today in a safe and happy return, if I must endure war with the rākṣasas? Only thus, in battle, will Daśānana truly measure the substance of his own strength—and mine as well.
Verse 5.41.9
ततस्समासाद्य रणे दशाननं समन्त्रिवर्गं सबलप्रयायिनम्।हृदि स्थितं तस्य मतं बलं च वै सुखेन मत्त्वाऽहमितः पुनर्व्रजे।।।।
Therefore, having encountered Daśānana in battle—along with his ministers and those who advance with his forces—and having easily ascertained his settled intention and strength, I shall return from here in safety.
Verse 5.41.10
इदमस्य नृशंसस्य नन्दनोपममुत्तमम्।वनं नेत्रमनःकान्तं नानाद्रुमलतायुतम्।।।।
This excellent garden of that cruel one—like Indra’s Nandana—delights both eye and mind, filled with many kinds of trees and creepers.
Verse 5.41.11
इदं विध्वंसयिष्यामि शुष्कं वनमिवानलः।अस्मिन्भग्ने ततः कोपं करिष्यति दशाननः।।।।
I shall destroy this place like fire consuming a dry forest; when it lies in ruin, Daśānana will then be stirred to wrath.
Verse 5.41.12
ततो महत्साश्वमहारथद्विपं बलं समादेक्ष्यति राक्षसाधिपः।त्रिशूलकालायसपट्टिसायुधं ततो महद्युद्धमिदं भविष्यति।।।।
Then the lord of the Rākṣasas will marshal a vast host—horses, mighty chariots, and elephants—armed with tridents and black-iron spears; and then a great battle shall arise.
Verse 5.41.13
अहं तु तैः संयति चण्डविक्रमै स्समेत्य रक्षोभिरसह्य विक्रमः।निहत्य तद्रावणचोदितं बलं सुखं गमिष्यामि कपीश्वरालयम्।।।।
Little now remains of this task: the dark-eyed lady has been beheld. Having gone beyond the three expedients, only the fourth means remains here—punishment by force.
Verse 5.41.14
ततो मारुतवत्कृद्धो मारुतिर्भीमविक्रमः।ऊरुवेगेन महता द्रुमान्क्षेप्तुमथारभत्।।।।
As for me, meeting those rākṣasas in battle—fighters of fierce might—I, whose valor is irresistible, shall slay that host dispatched by Rāvaṇa and then return in gladness to the abode of the lord of the monkeys.
Verse 5.41.15
ततस्तु हनुमान्वीरो बभञ्ज प्रमदावनम्।मत्तद्विजसमाघुष्टं नानाद्रुमलतायुतम्।।।।
Then Māruti, wrathful like the Wind-god and terrible in prowess, began to hurl trees with tremendous speed, driven by the mighty force of his thighs.
Verse 5.41.16
तद्वनं मथितैर्वृक्षैर्भिन्नैश्च सलिलाशयैः।चूर्णितैः पर्वताग्रैश्च बभूवाप्रियदर्शनम्।।।।
Thereupon the hero Hanumān shattered the pleasure-grove, resounding with the cries of birds as if intoxicated, and filled with many kinds of trees and creepers.
Verse 5.41.17
नानाशकुन्तविरुतैः प्रभिन्नैस्सलिलाशयैः।ताम्रैः किसलयैः क्लान्तै: क्लान्तद्रुमलतायुतम्।।।।न बभौ तद्वनं तत्र दावानलहतं यथा।व्याकुलावरणा रेजुर्विह्वला इव ता लताः।।।।
That grove became unsightly—its trees smashed, its ponds breached, and even its rocky heights crushed to powder.
Verse 5.41.18
नानाशकुन्तविरुतैः प्रभिन्नैस्सलिलाशयैः।ताम्रैः किसलयैः क्लान्तै: क्लान्तद्रुमलतायुतम्।।5.41.17।।न बभौ तद्वनं तत्र दावानलहतं यथा।व्याकुलावरणा रेजुर्विह्वला इव ता लताः।।5.41.18।।
With birds crying out in many ways, its ponds shattered, and its copper-red tender shoots withered—filled with exhausted trees and creepers—this grove no longer shone; it looked as though scorched by a forest fire. The creepers trembled, as if women in distress with their garments thrown into disorder.
Verse 5.41.19
लतागृहैश्चित्रगृहैश्च नाशितैर्महोरगैर्व्यालमृगैश्च निर्धुतैः।शिलागृहैरुन्मथितैस्तथा गृहैः प्रणष्टरूपं तदभून्महद्वनम्।।।।
This verse repeats the same description: amid the cries of birds, with shattered ponds and withered shoots, the grove looked like a forest burned by wildfire; the creepers quivered like distressed women with disordered garments.
Verse 5.41.20
सा विह्वलाऽशोकलताप्रताना वनस्थली शोकलताप्रताना।जाता दशास्यप्रमदावनस्य कपेर्बलाद्धि प्रमदावनस्य।।।।
Thus the grove—once spread with Aśoka creepers—became a grove spreading creepers of sorrow. For by the sheer force of that monkey, Rāvaṇa’s pleasure-garden was laid waste.
Verse 5.41.21
स तस्य कृत्वार्थपतेर्महाकपिर्महद्व्यलीकं मनसो महात्मनः।युयुत्सुरेको बहुभिर्महाबलैश्शिया ज्वलंस्तोरणमास्थितः कपिः।।।।
Having thus caused great offense in the mind of that great-souled lord of wealth, the great monkey—burning with splendor—took his stand upon the gateway, eager to fight alone against many mighty warriors.