Shloka 17
अशोकवनिकाविचारः
Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape
विहङ्गसङ्घैर्हीनास्ते स्कन्धमात्राश्रया द्रुमाः।बभूवुरगमाः सर्वे मारुतेव निर्धुताः।।।
vihaṅgasaṅghair hīnās te skandhamātrāśrayā drumāḥ |
babhūvur agamāḥ sarve māruteneva nirdhutāḥ |||
Privés des volées d’oiseaux et n’ayant plus pour appui que leurs troncs nus, tous ces arbres demeurèrent dépouillés, secoués comme par un vent impétueux.
The garden of Ashoka with trees shattered and crushed by Hanuman's tail, hands and feet, appeared like a woman with dishevelled hair, with her vermilion mark effaced, her bright teeth and lips faded for being kissed and wounded with nails and bitten with teeth (by her lover).
FAQs
The verse reflects impermanence: supports and comforts can vanish suddenly; dharma advises steadiness and truthfulness even when external ‘ornaments’ fall away.
The birds depart and the trees appear bare after the shaking, emphasizing the intensity of disturbance in the grove.
Endurance (titikṣā) is implied through the image of trees standing despite being stripped.