Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
पुष्पसंछन्नशाखाग्रं पललवैरुपशोभितम् । अशोकं स्तबकैश्छन्न॑ं रमणीयमपश्यत,घूमते-घूमते उन्होंने एक रमणीय अशोकका वृक्ष देखा, जो पल्लवोंसे सुशोभित और पुष्पके गुच्छोंसे आच्छादित था। उसकी शाखाओंके अग्रभाग फूलोंसे ढके हुए थे
puṣpasaṃchannaśākhāgraṃ pallavair upaśobhitam | aśokaṃ stabakaiś channaṃ ramaṇīyam apaśyata ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Ketika mereka terus merayau, mereka terlihat sebatang pokok aśoka yang menawan—hujung dahan diselubungi bunga, dihias pucuk-pucuk muda, dan tertutup rapat oleh gugusan bunga—lambang tuah dan ketenangan di tengah perjalanan mereka.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse primarily offers narrative imagery rather than direct moral instruction; it uses the auspicious, ‘sorrow-removing’ aśoka tree—lush with blossoms and new shoots—to evoke calm, hope, and favorable omens within the unfolding story.
The narrator Vaiśampāyana describes the travelers as they move about and come upon a beautiful aśoka tree whose branch-tips are covered with flowers and whose foliage is fresh with tender shoots.