Shloka 10

प्रमदावनविध्वंसः | The Devastation of the Pleasure-Garden

Ashoka Vatika

Devanagari script

इदमस्य नृशंसस्य नन्दनोपममुत्तमम्।वनं नेत्रमनःकान्तं नानाद्रुमलतायुतम्।।।।

Transliteration

idam asya nṛśaṃsasya nandanopamam uttamam | vanaṃ netramanaḥkāntaṃ nānādrumalatāyutam ||5.41.10||

Translation

ആ ക്രൂരന്റെ ഈ ഉത്തമോദ്യാനം ഇന്ദ്രന്റെ നന്ദനവനംപോലെ; കണ്ണിനും മനസ്സിനും ആനന്ദകരം, നാനാവിധ വൃക്ഷലതകളാൽ സമൃദ്ധമാണ്.

Word by Word

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative—"this"

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam/tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive—"of this/his"

• nṛśaṃsasya: of the cruel (Ravana)
• nṛśaṃsasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛśaṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; adjective used substantively—"of the cruel one"

• nandana-upamam: like Nandana
• nandana-upamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nandana + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—नन्दनस्य उपमम् (like Nandana garden)

• uttamam: excellent
• uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; superlative—"excellent"

• vanam: garden/grove
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; "forest/grove"

• netra-manaḥ-kāntam: pleasing to eyes and mind
• netra-manaḥ-kāntam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: netra + manas + kānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (itaretara) in first members—नेत्रे च मनश्च तयोः कान्तम् (pleasing to eyes and mind)

• nānā-druma-latā-yutam: filled with various trees and creepers
• nānā-druma-latā-yutam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā + druma + latā + yuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—नानाविधैः द्रुमैः लताभिः च युतम् (endowed with various trees and creepers)

Context

'This Ashoka garden of Ravana filled with different kinds of trees and creepers is a feast to the eyes and mind. It is an excellent garden like the Nandana garden of Indra.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Aśoka-vana
• Nandana (Indra’s garden)
• Indra (implied)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights an ethical contrast: outward splendor can coexist with inner cruelty. Dharma judges by conduct and truth, not by wealth or beauty.

What is the narrative situation?

As Hanumān moves within Laṅkā, he observes the grandeur of Rāvaṇa’s Aśoka garden where Sītā is held.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s attentive discernment: he assesses the environment strategically while keeping moral clarity about Rāvaṇa’s nature.