Shloka 10

अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्

Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

शातकुम्भनिभाः केचित्केचिदग्निशिखोपमाः।।।।नीलाञ्जननिभाः केचित्तत्राशोकास्सहस्रशः।

Transliteration

śātakumbha-nibhāḥ kecit kecid agni-śikhopamāḥ | nīlāñjana-nibhāḥ kecit tatrāśokāḥ sahasraśaḥ ||

Translation

Allí había miles de árboles de Aśoka: unos resplandecían como el oro, otros eran como lenguas de fuego, y otros oscuros como el añjana (colirio).

Word by Word

• śātakumbha-nibhāḥ: gold-like
• śātakumbha-nibhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śātakumbha (प्रातिपदिक) + nibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (adjective)

• kēcit: some (of them)
• kēcit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• kēcit: some (others)
• kēcit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम

• agni-śikhā-upamāḥ: like flames of fire
• agni-śikhā-upamāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhā (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• nīla-añjana-nibhāḥ: like dark collyrium
• nīla-añjana-nibhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + añjana (प्रातिपदिक) + nibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• kēcit: some (others)
• kēcit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• aśōkāḥ: aśoka trees
• aśōkāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśōka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• sahasraśaḥ: in thousands
• sahasraśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasraśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (distributive/quantifying adverb: ‘by thousands’)

Context

There were thousands of ashoka trees some of which shone like gold, others like the flames of fire and some dark as collyrium.

Characters & Entities

• Aśoka-vana (setting)

FAQs

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

The verse supports dharmic narration through truthful detail: careful description establishes credibility and context for the righteous mission unfolding within a place of deceptive captivity.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān observes the Aśoka grove’s striking variety, noting the appearance of its countless trees.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Observational clarity: Hanumān’s precise noticing aids his cautious navigation and later truthful account.