Shloka 43
अशोकवनिकाविचारः
Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape
अशोकवनिका चेयं दृढं रम्या दुरात्मनः।चम्पकैश्चन्दनैश्चापि वकुलैश्च विभूषिता।।।।
aśokavanikā ceyaṃ dṛḍhaṃ ramyā durātmanaḥ | campakaiś candanaiś cāpi vakulaiś ca vibhūṣitā ||
‘ഈ അശോകവനിക തീർച്ചയായും അത്യന്തം മനോഹരം—ചമ്പക, ചന്ദനം, വകുല വൃക്ഷങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിതം—എങ്കിലും ഇത് ആ ദുഷ്ടാത്മാവിന്റെ (രാവണന്റെ) അധീനത്തിലാണ്.’
"Surely this beautiful Ashoka grove with delightful champak, chandan and bakula trees belongs to the wicked Ravana."
FAQs
Dharma distinguishes inner moral worth from outward splendor: even a lovely place can be tied to adharma when possessed or used by a wicked ruler.
Hanumān recognizes the grove’s beauty and concludes it is part of Rāvaṇa’s domain within Laṅkā.
Moral discernment: Hanumān does not get captivated by beauty; he assesses ownership and ethical context.