Shloka 5.41.17

प्रमदावनविध्वंसः | The Devastation of the Pleasure-Garden (Ashoka Vatika)

Devanagari script

नानाशकुन्तविरुतैः प्रभिन्नैस्सलिलाशयैः।ताम्रैः किसलयैः क्लान्तै: क्लान्तद्रुमलतायुतम्।।।।न बभौ तद्वनं तत्र दावानलहतं यथा।व्याकुलावरणा रेजुर्विह्वला इव ता लताः।।।।

Transliteration

tad vanaṃ mathitair vṛkṣair bhinnaiś ca salilāśayaiḥ |

cūrṇitaiḥ parvatāgraiś ca babhūvāpriya-darśanam ||

Translation

That grove became unsightly—its trees smashed, its ponds breached, and even its rocky heights crushed to powder.

Context

Vines and trees wilted, birds shrieking, the embankments of ponds destroyed, its tender coppery red shoots withered, the garden looked as though it is burnt by forest fire and the climbers looked like women shivering in fear with their robes disarrayed.

Characters & Entities

• the grove/garden
• ponds (salilāśaya)
• rocky peaks (parvatāgra)

FAQs

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

Adharmic power and its luxuries are fragile; when dharma is asserted, the outward splendor that supported wrongdoing collapses.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes the visible aftermath of Hanumān’s destruction: the grove’s infrastructure and natural beauty are ruined.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Overwhelming strength (bala) used as an instrument of a righteous campaign.