Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 4

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

अथाम्रवणसञ्छन्नां लताशतसमावृताम्।ज्यामुक्त इव नाराचः पुप्लुवे वृक्षवाटिकाम्।।।।

Transliteration

athāmravaṇasañchannāṃ latāśatasamāvṛtām |

jyāmukta iva nārācaḥ pupluve vṛkṣavāṭikām ||

Translation

Lalu Hanumān melompat masuk ke taman pepohon yang diselubungi rimba mangga dan diliputi ratusan sulur menjalar—bagaikan anak panah yang terlepas dari tali busur.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunction): अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• आम्र-वण-सञ्छन्नाम्: covered with mango-groves
• आम्र-वण-सञ्छन्नाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वण (प्रातिपदिक) + सञ्छन्न (कृदन्त; √छद् (धातु) + सम् उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ताम् (वृक्षवाटिकाम्) इति विशेषणम्; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्राय (covered with mango-groves)

• लता-शत-समावृताम्: covered by hundreds of creepers
• लता-शत-समावृताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लता (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक) + समावृत (कृदन्त; सम्-आ-√वृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ताम् (वृक्षवाटिकाम्) इति विशेषणम्; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (enveloped by hundreds of creepers)

• ज्या-मुक्तः: released from the bowstring
• ज्या-मुक्तः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्या (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्त (कृदन्त; √मुच् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपमानपद (as released from the bowstring)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय (like/as)

• नाराचः: an arrow
• नाराचः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाराच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपमान-आश्रय (the arrow)

• पुप्लुवे: leapt/shot forth
• पुप्लुवे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्लु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• वृक्ष-वाटिकाम्: the grove (tree-garden)
• वृक्ष-वाटिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वाटिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (garden of trees)

Context

Not far from there, Hanuman, son of the Wind-god sighted lotus ponds filled with different kinds of water birds.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as disciplined service: Hanumān’s swift, focused movement symbolizes commitment to a righteous mission without distraction.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān enters the lush garden area of Laṅkā while searching for Sītā, moving quickly and purposefully through dense vegetation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valour/energy) joined with niṣṭhā (steadfast dedication) to the task entrusted to him.