Shloka 49
अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्
Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove
इयं सा यत्कृते रामश्चतुर्भिः परितप्यते।कारुण्येनानृशंस्येन शोकेन मदनेन च।।।।स्त्री प्रणष्टेति कारुण्यादाश्रितेत्यानृशंस्यतः।पत्नी नष्टेति शोकेन प्रियेति मदनेन च।।।।
iyaṁ sā yatkṛte rāmaś caturbhiḥ paritapyate |
kāruṇyenānṛśaṁsyena śokena madanena ca ||5.15.49||
strī praṇaṣṭeti kāruṇyād āśritety ānṛśaṁsyataḥ |
patnī naṣṭeti śokena priyeti madanena ca ||5.15.50||
彼女こそ、ラーマが四重の苦しみによって責め苛まれる、その当の女性である。すなわち、憐れみ、やさしき慈悲、悲嘆、そして恋慕である。彼は「一人の女が失われた」と思って憐れみを起こし、「庇護を求めて来た者が失われた」と思って慈悲を起こし、「我が妻が失われた」と思って悲嘆し、「我が愛しき人が失われた」と思って恋慕に燃える。
Hanuman surveyed from the Simsupa tree the Ashoka grove of trees full of fine fragrance. It looked welldecorated 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 earornaments (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 whole grove.
FAQs
Dharma is expressed as righteous love governed by compassion and responsibility: Rāma’s suffering is not mere desire, but includes mercy toward a vulnerable woman, protection of a dependent, and fidelity to his wife—an ethical, duty-centered devotion.
After locating Sītā in the Aśoka grove, Hanumān recognizes her and reflects on how intensely and virtuously Rāma has been suffering in separation.
Rāma’s anṛśaṁsya (gentle non-cruelty) and steadfast marital dharma; also Hanumān’s discernment in recognizing Sītā and understanding the moral texture of Rāma’s grief.