Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 15

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

निर्धूतपत्रशिखराः शीर्णपुष्पफला द्रुमाः।निक्षिप्तवस्त्राभरणा धूर्ता इव पराजिताः।।।।

Transliteration

nirdhūtapatraśikharāḥ śīrṇapuṣpaphalā drumāḥ |

nikṣiptavastrābharaṇā dhūrtā iva parājitāḥ ||

Translation

葉の茂る梢は振り払われ、花も実も落ち尽くし、木々はまるで賭けに敗れた博徒のように見えた――賭け金を失い、衣も飾りも剥ぎ取られた者のごとく。

Word by Word

• निर्धूत-पत्र-शिखराः: with leaf-tops shaken off
• निर्धूत-पत्र-शिखराः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of द्रुमाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्धूत (धू धातु, क्त) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: पत्रशिखराणि निर्धूतानि येषाम्; बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा; द्रुमाः विशेषण

• शीर्ण-पुष्प-फलाः: with flowers and fruits shed
• शीर्ण-पुष्प-फलाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of द्रुमाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीर्ण (शॄ धातु, क्त) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: पुष्पफलानि शीर्णानि येषाम्; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्रुमाः विशेषण

• द्रुमाः: trees
• द्रुमाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject of implied 'were')
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• निक्षिप्त-वस्त्र-आभरणाः: having cast off clothes and ornaments
• निक्षिप्त-वस्त्र-आभरणाः: उपमेय-विशेषण (Qualifier in simile)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निक्षिप्त (क्षिप् धातु, क्त) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: वस्त्राभरणानि निक्षिप्तानि येषाम्; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; धूर्ताः विशेषण (upameya-side)

• धूर्ताः: gamblers/rogues
• धूर्ताः: उपमान (Upamana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (simile particle)

• पराजिताः: defeated, ruined
• पराजिताः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराजित (जि धातु, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्रुमाः (or implied) विशेषण

Context

Shaken by the swift Hanuman, even the big trees dropped flowers, fruits and leaves.

Characters & Entities

• trees

FAQs

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

The simile warns that adharma (here, gambling and reckless loss) leads to stripping away of dignity—an implicit ethical contrast to dharma, which preserves honor and self-mastery.

What is the narrative situation?

After being shaken, the trees stand denuded of leaves, flowers, and fruits, prompting a vivid comparison.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment through poetic insight: the narrative uses moral imagery to frame events within ethical reflection.