Shloka 2
अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्
Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove
सन्तानकलताभिश्च पादपैरुपशोभिताम्।दिव्यगन्धरसोपेतां सर्वतस्समलङ्कृताम्।।।।तां स नन्दनसङ्काशां मृगपक्षिभिरावृताम्।हर्म्यप्रासादसम्बाधां कोकिलाकुलनिस्स्वनाम्।।।।काञ्चनोत्पलपद्माभिर्वापीभिरुपशोभिताम्।बह्वासनकुथोपेतां बहुभूमिगृहायुताम्।।।।सर्वर्तुकुसुमै रम्यां फलवद्भिश्च पादपैः।पुष्पितानामशोकानां श्रिया सूर्योदयप्रभाम्।।।।प्रदीप्तामिव तत्रस्थो मारुतिस्समुदैक्षत।निष्पत्रशाखां विहगैः क्रियमाणामिवासकृत्।।।।विनिष्पतद्भिः शतशश्चित्रैः पुष्पावतंसकैः।आमूलपुष्पनिचितैरशोकैश्शोकनाशनैः।।।।पुष्पभारातिभारैश्च स्पृशद्भिरिव मेदिनीम्।कर्णिकारैः कुसुमितैः किंशुकैश्च सुपुष्पितैः।।।।
santāna-kalatābhiś ca pādapair upaśobhitām |
divya-gandha-rasopetāṃ sarvataḥ samalaṅkṛtām ||
tāṃ sa nandana-saṅkāśāṃ mṛga-pakṣibhir āvṛtām |
harmya-prāsāda-sambādhāṃ kokilākula-nissvanām ||
kāñcanotpalapadmābhir vāpībhir upaśobhitām |
bahv-āsana-kuthopetāṃ bahu-bhūmi-gṛhāyutām ||
sarvartu-kusumai ramyāṃ phalavadbhiś ca pādapaiḥ |
puṣpitānām aśokānāṃ śriyā sūryodaya-prabhām ||
pradīptām iva tatra-stho mārutiḥ samudaikṣata |
niṣpatra-śākhāṃ vihagaiḥ kriyamāṇām ivāsakṛt ||
viniṣpatadbhiḥ śataśaś citraiḥ puṣpāvataṃsakaiḥ |
āmūla-puṣpa-nicitair aśokaiḥ śoka-nāśanaiḥ ||
puṣpa-bhārāti-bhāraiś ca spṛśadbhir iva medinīm |
karṇikāraiḥ kusumitaiḥ kiṃśukaiś ca supuṣpitaiḥ ||
その場に立つマールティ（ハヌマーン）は、あのアショーカの林を見渡した。蔓草と樹々により美しく飾られ、天なる香りと樹液に満ち、四方ことごとく荘厳されている。まるでインドラのナンダナ園のごとく、鹿と鳥が群れ、コーキラの声がこだまし、楼閣や高殿が立ち並び、さらに多くの地下の間までも備えていた。 池には黄金の蓮華と睡蓮が輝き、座と敷物は豊かに整えられ、四季の花と実を結ぶ樹々によっていよいよ麗しい。咲き誇るアショーカは朝日の光のように燦然とし、林全体が燃え立つかのようであった。 また幾度となく葉を失ったようにも見えた。数百の鳥が枝々を彩り、まるで色とりどりの花冠を結ぶかのようである。しかもアショーカは根元に至るまで花に埋もれ、憂いを滅するために生まれたかのよう。花の重みに枝は地に触れんばかりで、さらにカルニカーラの花と、満開のキンシュカが林をいっそう明るくしていた。
Hanuman surveyed from the Simsupa tree the Ashoka grove of trees full of fine fragrance. It looked well-decorated like the Nandana garden of Indra. It teemed with animals and birds. It was filled with the voices of the cuckoos. It had tall mansions and underground chamber. There were golden lilies and lotuses in the lakes, enchanting couches with rich coverings and trees full of blossoms of all seasons and fruits in abundance With the Ashoka tree shedding showers of flowers from time to time the place shone with the splendour of Sunrise. It glittered like inflamed fire. The Ashoka tree had hundreds of colourful birds on the branches. It appeared as if it had branches without leaves which made them look like ear-ornaments (of the grove). Ashoka flowers in bloom hung down to the base of the tree as if to take away the grief of the onlookers. The blossoms of the Karnikara and kimsuka brightened the wholegrove.
FAQs
Hanumān’s careful, truthful observation (satya) and disciplined focus on his mission reflect dharma: he does not get distracted by beauty or luxury, but surveys the grove as part of his righteous duty to find Sītā.
The comparison highlights extraordinary splendor—divine fragrance, abundant blossoms, birdsong, and rich architecture—underscoring the seductive power of Laṅkā’s opulence, which a dharmic messenger like Hanumān must see clearly without being ensnared.