Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 21

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

स तत्र मणिभूमीश्च राजतीश्च मनोरमाः।तथा काञ्चनभूमीश्च ददर्श विचरन्कपिः।।।।

Transliteration

sa tatra maṇibhūmīś ca rājatīś ca manoramāḥ |

tathā kāñcanabhūmīś ca dadarśa vicaran kapiḥ ||

Translation

Berkelana di sana, sang kera melihat lantai-lantai indah bertatah permata; juga lantai perak yang berkilau serta hamparan emas yang gemilang.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject of ददर्श)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• मणि-भूमीः: gem-studded floors
• मणि-भूमीः: कर्म (Karma/Object of ददर्श)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: मणीनां भूमयः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• राजतीः: silver(-paved)/made of silver
• राजतीः: विशेषण (Qualifier of भूमीः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; (भूमीः) विशेषण

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• मनोरमाः: beautiful, delightful
• मनोरमाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of भूमीः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोरम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; (भूमीः) विशेषण

• तथा: also
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Discourse adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (also/likewise)

• काञ्चन-भूमीः: golden floors
• काञ्चन-भूमीः: कर्म (Karma/Object of ददर्श)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: काञ्चनस्य भूमयः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विचरन्: roaming
• विचरन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कपिः विशेषण; समकाल (simultaneous action)

• कपिः: the monkey (Hanuman)
• कपिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Roaming there the monkey noticed the beautiful floors paved with gems, gold and silver৷৷

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Aśoka grove (implied palace-garden setting)

FAQs

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

Amid luxury, dharma calls for non-attachment: Hanumān notices splendor but remains bound to truth and duty rather than temptation.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān surveys the richly built surfaces and pavements within the grove/palatial garden area.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vairāgya-like detachment in action: the ability to see wealth without being diverted.