Shloka 17

प्रमदावनविध्वंसः | The Devastation of the Pleasure-Garden

Ashoka Vatika

Devanagari script

नानाशकुन्तविरुतैः प्रभिन्नैस्सलिलाशयैः।ताम्रैः किसलयैः क्लान्तै: क्लान्तद्रुमलतायुतम्।।।।न बभौ तद्वनं तत्र दावानलहतं यथा।व्याकुलावरणा रेजुर्विह्वला इव ता लताः।।।।

Transliteration

nānā-śakunta-virutaiḥ prabhinnais salilāśayaiḥ |

tāmraiḥ kisalayaiḥ klāntaiḥ klānta-druma-latā-yutam ||

na babhau tad vanaṃ tatra dāvānala-hataṃ yathā |

vyākulāvaraṇā rejur vihvalā iva tā latāḥ ||

Translation

നാനാവിധ പക്ഷികളുടെ കരച്ചിലോടെ, പൊട്ടിപ്പിരിഞ്ഞ ജലാശയങ്ങളോടെ, താമ്രവർണ്ണമുള്ള কোমല കിസലങ്ങൾ വാടിക്ക്ലാന്തമായിട്ട്—ക്ലാന്തമായ വൃക്ഷലതകളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞ ആ വനം അവിടെ ദാവാനലത്തിൽ ദഗ്ധമായ വനത്തെപ്പോലെ ശോഭിച്ചില്ല. വസ്ത്രങ്ങൾ അശ്രദ്ധയായി അലയുന്ന വ്യാകുലസ്ത്രീകളെപ്പോലെ ആ ലതകൾ വിറച്ചു തെളിഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• nānā-śakunta-virutaiḥ: with various bird-cries
• nānā-śakunta-virutaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā + śakunta + viruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—नानाविध-शकुन्तानां विरुतानि (various bird-cries)

• prabhinnaiḥ: smashed
• prabhinnaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√bhid (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; qualifying salilāśayaiḥ—"smashed/breached"

• salila-āśayaiḥ: with ponds
• salila-āśayaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila + āśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; "with ponds"

• tāmraiḥ: reddish
• tāmraiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; qualifying kisalayaiḥ—"reddish"

• kisalayaiḥ: with tender shoots
• kisalayaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kisalaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental—"with tender shoots"

• klāntaiḥ: withered
• klāntaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: klānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; qualifying kisalayaiḥ—"withered/weary"

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

Context

Vines and trees wilted, birds shrieking, the embankments of ponds destroyed, its tender coppery red shoots withered, the garden looked as though it is burnt by forest fire and the climbers looked like women shivering in fear with their robes disarrayed.

Characters & Entities

• birds
• ponds
• creepers (latāḥ)

FAQs

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

The verse poetically reflects how violence and oppression (embodied by Laṅkā’s regime) radiate suffering outward; dharma-sensitive narration makes the cost visible even in nature’s imagery.

What is the narrative situation?

A detailed description of the grove after devastation—sounds, broken ponds, withered shoots, and trembling creepers—emphasizes total ruin.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indirectly, Hanumān’s unstoppable force; narratively, the poet’s ethical sensitivity in portraying destruction as grave and consequential.