Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 22
अशोकवनिकाविचारः
Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape
वापीश्च विविधाकाराः पूर्णाः परमवारिणा।महार्हैर्मणिसोपानैरुपपन्नास्ततस्ततः।।।।मुक्ताप्रवालसिकताः स्फाटिकान्तरकुट्टिमाः।काञ्चनैस्तरुभिश्चित्रैस्तीरजैरुपशोभिताः।।।।फुल्लपद्मोत्पलवनाश्चक्रवाकोपकूजिताः।नत्यूहरुतसंघुष्टा हंससारसनादिताः।।।।दीर्घाभिर्द्रुमयुक्ताभिः सरद्भिश्च समन्ततः।अमृतोपमतोयाभिश्शिवाभिरुपसंस्कृताः।।।।लताशतैरवततास्सन्तानकुसुमावृताः।नानागुल्मावृतघनाः करवीरकृतान्तराः।।।।
vāpīś ca vividhākārāḥ pūrṇāḥ paramavāriṇā |
mahārhair maṇisopānair upapannās tatas tataḥ ||
muktāpravālasikatāḥ sphāṭikāntarakuṭṭimāḥ |
kāñcanais tarubhiś citrais tīrajair upaśobhitāḥ ||
phullapadmotpalavanāś cakravākopakūjitāḥ |
natyūharutasaṅghuṣṭā haṃsasārasanāditāḥ ||
dīrghābhir drumayuktābhiḥ saridbhiś ca samantataḥ |
amṛtopamatoyābhiḥ śivābhir upasaṃskṛtāḥ ||
latāśatair avatātāḥ santānakusumāvṛtāḥ |
nānāgulmāvṛtaghanāḥ karavīrakṛtāntarāḥ ||
Ia melihat kolam-kolam beraneka rupa, penuh air yang amat jernih, dan di sana-sini dilengkapi tangga dari permata yang sangat berharga. Pasirnya bagaikan mutiara dan karang, lantai bagian dalamnya berkilau kristal; tepinya dihiasi pepohonan emas yang beraneka warna. Di dalamnya tumbuh rimbun teratai dan utpala yang mekar, bergema oleh panggilan burung cakravāka, riuh kicau natyūha, serta suara angsa dan burung sārasā. Di sekelilingnya mengalir saluran-saluran panjang berpepohonan, dengan air laksana amerta, membawa keberkahan, tertata indah. Tempat itu terhampar oleh ratusan sulur menjuntai, terselimuti bunga santānaka, lebat oleh semak beragam, dan berseri oleh sela-sela yang ditandai tanaman karavīra.
He observed ponds of different shapes filled with clear water with steps paved with rich gems, with sands of pearls and corals and bottoms of crystal, which contained beds of lotuses in bloom, adorned with chakravaka birds and resonant with cacklings of swans and sarasas and vatyuhas rubbing their beaks. There were golden platforms built on banks and platforms built of crystals. There were trees on the bank of streams, and nectar-like sacred waters flowing in them surrounded by hundreds of creepers, and Ashoka blossoms scattered everywhere, with thickly grown bushes of different kinds, with lilies in bloom in tanks.
FAQs
The verse presents ordered beauty and auspiciousness as a sign of cultivated life; dharma is the harmonizing principle that aligns environment, conduct, and purpose—yet Hanumān remains committed to truth (satya) over aesthetic distraction.
Hanumān surveys the refined water-gardens—ponds, jeweled steps, blooming lotuses, and birds—within the Aśoka grove complex.
Steady attention (ekāgratā): he perceives detail without losing sight of his mission to find Sītā.