Shloka 43
Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
अशोकैश्नम्पकैश्वूतैरनेकैरतिमुक्तकै: । पुन्नागै: कर्णिकारैश्व वकुलैर्दिव्यपाटलै:
aśokaiś campakaiś cūtair anekair atimuktakaiḥ | punnāgaiḥ karṇikāraiś ca vakulair divya-pāṭalaiḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Hutan milik raja itu bersinar laksana rimba suci Caitraratha, taman para dewa. Musim bunga sedang mekar, dan belantara itu dihiasi pelbagai pohon serta sulur berbunga—ashoka, campaka, mangga, sulur atimuktaka yang melimpah, punnāga, karṇikāra, vakula, dan pāṭala yang bak syurga—menjadikan tempat itu indah, suci, dan membawa tuah. Gambaran ini menimbulkan kontras moral yang lazim dalam epik: kuasa diraja dan kehidupan duniawi dibingkai oleh tertib sakral, di mana keharmonian alam mencerminkan kemakmuran dan pemerintahan yang benar.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily teaches through aesthetic suggestion: a well-ordered, auspicious natural world is used as a mirror for rightful kingship and prosperity. By likening the king’s forest to the gods’ Caitraratha grove, the narrative implies that harmony, purity, and abundance are signs of a realm aligned with auspicious order.
Vaiśampāyana describes a forest associated with the king, portraying it in springtime splendor. Numerous fragrant and flowering trees and creepers are listed, and the grove is compared to the divine Caitraratha forest of the gods, emphasizing its extraordinary beauty and sanctity.