Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 10

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

उत्पतद्भिर्द्विजगणैः पक्षैः सालास्समाहताः।अनेकवर्णा विविधा मुमुचुः पुष्पवृष्टयः।।।।

Transliteration

utpatadbhir dvija-gaṇaiḥ pakṣaiḥ sālāḥ samāhatāḥ | aneka-varṇā vividhā mumucuḥ puṣpa-vṛṣṭayaḥ ||

Translation

Tatkala kawanan burung terbang melayang, pokok-pokok śāla yang dipukul oleh kepak sayap mereka pun menumpahkan hujan bunga yang beraneka warna dan rupa.

Word by Word

• utpatadbhis: by the flying (ones)
• utpatadbhis: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: utpat (धातु √पत् + उद् उपसर्ग; वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: बहुवचन, तृतीया (करण), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः पुं.); शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; Instrumental plural (by the flying ones)

• dvija-gaṇaiḥ: by flocks of birds
• dvija-gaṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया (करण); तत्पुरुष-समास (द्विजानां गणः)

• pakṣaiḥ: with wings
• pakṣaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया (करण); Instrumental plural

• sālāḥ: sāla trees
• sālāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय); Nominative plural

• samāhatāḥ: were struck / battered
• samāhatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-han (धातु √हन्; भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• aneka-varṇāḥ: many-colored
• aneka-varṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; कर्मधारय-समास (अनेकाः वर्णाः यस्याः)

• vividhāḥ: various
• vividhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; Nominative plural

• mumucuḥ: released / let loose
• mumucuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु; लिट्)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; 3rd person plural perfect

• puṣpa-vṛṣṭayaḥ: showers of flowers
• puṣpa-vṛṣṭayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; तत्पुरुष-समास (पुष्पाणां वृष्टयः)

Context

As the birds flew away, the trees hit by the wings of birds showered flowers of different colours.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān (implied cause of disturbance)
• Birds (dvija-gaṇa)
• Śāla trees

FAQs

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

Indirectly, dharma is shown as harmony: even amid stealth and urgency, the natural world responds with auspicious beauty, framing the righteous quest as supported by order rather than chaos.

What is the narrative situation?

In the grove, movement startles birds; their flight shakes trees, causing a rain of flowers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Focused restraint—Hanumān moves swiftly yet purposefully, disturbing the grove only as an incidental effect of his mission.