Shloka 27

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

ततोऽम्बुधरसङ्काशं प्रवृद्धशिखरं गिरिम्।विचित्रकूटं कूटैश्च सर्वतः परिवारितम्।।।।शिलागृहैरवततं नानावृक्षैः समावृतम्।ददर्श हरिशार्दूलो रम्यं जगति पर्वतम्।।।।

Transliteration

śilāgṛhair avatatam nānāvṛkṣaiḥ samāvṛtam |

dadarśa hariśārdūlo ramyaṃ jagati parvatam ||5.14.28||

Translation

ശിലാഗുഹാഗൃഹങ്ങളാൽ വ്യാപിച്ചും നാനാവിധ വൃക്ഷങ്ങളാൽ പൂർണ്ണമായി ആവൃതമായും ഉള്ള ആ രമ്യമായ പർവ്വതത്തെ വാനരശാർദൂലനായ ഹനുമാൻ ദർശിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (काल/क्रम); adverb (then/thereupon)

• ambudhara-saṅkāśam: resembling a rain-cloud
• ambudhara-saṅkāśam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ambudhara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; तत्पुरुष (अम्बुधरस्य सङ्काशः)

• pravṛddha-śikharam: having a lofty peak
• pravṛddha-śikharam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravṛddha (कृदन्त from √vṛdh; क्त) + śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; तत्पुरुष (प्रवृद्धं शिखरं यस्य)

• girim: mountain
• girim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म); Accusative singular

• vicitra-kūṭam: with wondrous peaks
• vicitra-kūṭam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक) + kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; कर्मधारय (विचित्रं कूटं)

• kūṭaiḥ: by/with peaks
• kūṭaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया; Instrumental plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• sarvataḥ: on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देश); adverb (on all sides)

• parivāritam: surrounded
• parivāritam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√vṛ (धातु; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP (surrounded)

• śilā-gṛhaiḥ: with rock-caves
• śilā-gṛhaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया; तत्पुरुष (शिलायाः गृहम् = rock-dwelling/cave)

• avatatam: extending
• avatatam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-√tan (धातु; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; PPP (extended/spread)

• nānā-vṛkṣaiḥ: with various trees
• nānā-vṛkṣaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया; तत्पुरुष (नानाविधैः वृक्षैः)

• samāvṛtam: covered
• samāvṛtam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√vṛ (धातु; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; PPP (covered/enclosed)

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु; लिट्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 3rd person singular perfect

• hari-śārdūlaḥ: the tiger among monkeys (Hanuman)
• hari-śārdūlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; तत्पुरुष (हरीणां शार्दूलः = tiger among monkeys)

• ramyam: delightful
• ramyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; Accusative singular (qualifying parvatam)

• jagati: in the world
• jagati: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (अधिकरण); Locative singular (in the world)

• parvatam: mountain
• parvatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म)

Context

The tiger among monkeys beheld a delightingful mountain, resembling the rain-cloud with tall, pleasing peaks, wonderful peaks spread all over the mountain. There were caves built of stone, with a variety of trees.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā
• parvata (mountain)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as purposeful movement: Hanuman’s exploration is not wandering but duty-driven search. The Ramayana frames such disciplined effort in service of truth (Satya) and justice as righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

After observing the gardens and waters, Hanuman’s gaze shifts to a nearby mountain landscape with caves and diverse trees—part of his systematic reconnaissance of Lanka.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and competence: Hanuman is portrayed as powerful (hariśārdūla) yet controlled, able to traverse and assess difficult terrain in pursuit of a righteous objective.