Shloka 2

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

स तु संहृष्टसर्वाङ्गः प्राकारस्थो महाकपिः।पुष्पिताग्रान्वसन्तादौ ददर्श विविधान् द्रुमान्।।।।सालानशोकान् भव्यांश्च चंपकांश्च सुपुष्पितान्।उद्दालकान्नागवृक्षांश्चूतान्कपिमुखानपि।।।।

Transliteration

sa tu saṃhṛṣṭasarvāṅgaḥ prākārastho mahākapiḥ |

puṣpitāgrān vasantādau dadarśa vividhān drumān ||

sālān aśokān bhavyāṃś ca campakāṃś ca supuṣpitān |

uddālakān nāgavṛkṣāṃś cūtān kapimukhān api ||

Translation

Debout sur le mur d’enceinte, le grand singe Hanumān, transporté de joie dans tous ses membres, vit, à l’aube du printemps, maints arbres aux cimes fleuries : sāla et aśoka, de splendides campaka en pleine floraison, ainsi que des uddālaka, des arbres nāga et des manguiers dont les fruits rougeoyants étaient comparés au museau d’un singe.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• संहृष्ट-सर्व-अङ्गः: with all limbs thrilled
• संहृष्ट-सर्व-अङ्गः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संहृष्ट (कृदन्त; √हृष् (धातु) + सम् उपसर्ग, क्त) + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (one whose all limbs are thrilled/contracted)

• प्राकार-स्थः: standing on/at the rampart
• प्राकार-स्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकार (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (prākāre sthitaḥ)

• महाकपिः: the great monkey (Hanuman)
• महाकपिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (great monkey)

• पुष्पित-अग्रान्: with blossoming tops
• पुष्पित-अग्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्पित (कृदन्त; √पुष्प् (धातु) + क्त) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (flowered-topped)

• वसन्त-आदौ: at the beginning of spring
• वसन्त-आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), एकवचनम्; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (at the beginning of spring)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• विविधान्: various
• विविधान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• द्रुमान्: trees
• द्रुमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

Context

Shaken vigorously by Hanuman of great speed, the trees shed their blooms of variegated colours.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Aśoka-vana (Aśoka grove)
• prākāra (boundary wall)
• sāla trees

FAQs

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

The verse sets the scene for Hanumān’s dharmic mission—he enters a place of beauty not for enjoyment but to serve Rāma’s righteous purpose: locating Sītā and advancing truth and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān, having entered Laṅkā, stands on the boundary wall and surveys the springtime trees of the Aśoka grove.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Focused vigilance (apramāda): Hanumān observes keenly and prepares to act with purpose rather than distraction.