Shloka 5

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

स प्रविश्य विचित्रां तां विहगैरभिनादिताम्।राजतैः कांचनैश्चैव पादपैः सर्वतो वृताम्।।।।विहगैर्मृगसङ्घैश्च विचित्रां चित्रकाननाम्।उदितादित्यसङ्काशां ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः।।।।वृतां नानाविधैर्वृक्षैः पुष्पोपगफलोपगैः।कोकिलैर्भृङ्गराजैश्च मत्तैर्नित्यनिषेविताम्।।।।प्रहृष्टमनुजे काले मृगपक्षिसमाकुले।मत्तबर्हिणसङ्घुष्टां नानाद्विजगणायुताम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa praviśya vicitrāṃ tāṃ vihagair abhināditām | rājataiḥ kāñcanaiś caiva pādapaiḥ sarvato vṛtām ||

vihagair mṛgasaṅghaiś ca vicitrāṃ citrakānanām | uditādityasaṅkāśāṃ dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ ||

vṛtāṃ nānāvidhair vṛkṣaiḥ puṣpopagaphalopagaiḥ | kokilair bhṛṅgarājaiś ca mattair nityaniṣevitām ||

prahṛṣṭamanuje kāle mṛgapakṣisamākule | mattabarhiṇasaṅghuṣṭāṃ nānādvijagaṇāyutām ||

Translation

കപി ഹനുമാൻ ആ വിചിത്രമായ ഉപവനത്തിലേക്ക് പ്രവേശിച്ചു—പക്ഷികളുടെ കലകലധ്വനിയാൽ മുഴങ്ങുന്നതും, വെള്ളിയും സ്വർണ്ണവും പോലെ തിളങ്ങുന്ന വൃക്ഷങ്ങൾ എല്ലാടവും ചുറ്റിപ്പറ്റിയതും. മൃഗസംഘങ്ങളും പക്ഷിസമൂഹങ്ങളും നിറഞ്ഞ, ഉദയസൂര്യനെപ്പോലെ പ്രകാശിക്കുന്ന ആ ചിത്രകാനനം അവൻ കണ്ടു. നാനാവിധ വൃക്ഷങ്ങൾ ചുറ്റിയ, പുഷ്പഫലസമൃദ്ധമായ, മത്ത കോകിലരും ഭൃംഗരാജങ്ങളും നിത്യമായി സേവിക്കുന്ന; മനുഷ്യർക്കു ഹർഷകരമായ സമയത്ത് മൃഗപക്ഷികളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞ, മത്ത മയൂരങ്ങളുടെ നാദം മുഴങ്ങുന്ന, നാനാ ദ്വിജഗണങ്ങളാൽ സമ്പൂർണ്ണമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

सःhe

प्रविश्यhaving entered

विचित्राम्variegated/beautiful

ताम्that (grove)

विहगैःby birds

अभिनादिताम्resounding

राजतैःsilvery

काञ्चनैःgolden

चand

एवindeed

पादपैःby trees

सर्वतःon all sides

वृताम्surrounded

विहगैःby birds

मृग-सङ्घैःby herds of deer

चand

विचित्राम्beautiful

चित्र-काननाम्the lovely grove

उदित-आदित्य-सङ्काशाम्like the rising sun

ददर्शsaw

हनुमान्Hanuman

कपिःthe monkey

वृताम्surrounded

नाना-विधैःof many kinds

वृक्षैःby trees

पुष्प-उपग-फल-उपगैःbearing flowers and fruits

कोकिलैःby cuckoos

भृङ्गराजैःby bees

चand

मत्तैःintoxicated/mad

नित्य-निषेविताम्constantly frequented

प्रहृष्ट-मनुजेwhen people are delighted

कालेin the season/time

मृग-पक्षि-समाकुलेcrowded with beasts and birds

मत्त-बर्हिण-सङ्घुष्टाम्resounding with proud peacocks

नाना-द्विज-गण-आयुताम्filled with many flocks of various birds

Context

Entering deep into the grove, Hanuman saw clusters of trees pleasing to look at, herds of animals and flocks of colourful birds singing melodious notes.The grove was surrounded on all sides by silvery and golden trees which looked colourful with flocks of birds and herds of deer. It was full of lovely thickets looking like the rising sun. It was fringed with various trees bearing abundance of fruits and flowers. It was inhabited by intoxicated cuckoos, bees, proud peacocks and numerous lovely birds.

Characters & Entities

Hanumān

birds (vihaga, dvija-gaṇa)

deer (mṛga)

bees (bhṛṅgarāja)

peacocks (barhiṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is mindful perception in the service of a righteous goal: the text frames nature’s beauty as a setting for disciplined duty—Hanumān’s search is conducted with alertness and reverence rather than violence or disruption.

What is the narrative situation?

This is a descriptive passage: Hanumān has entered the grove in Laṅkā and observes its rich, vibrant ecosystem as he continues the mission to find Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control and focus: despite the enchanting surroundings, Hanumān remains oriented to the task entrusted to him.