Shloka 28
ऋक्षबिलप्रवेशः
Entry into the Rikshabilam Cave
ततस्तं देशमागम्य सौम्या वितिमिरं वनम्।।4.50.24।।ददृशुः काञ्चनान्वृक्षान्दीप्तवैश्वानरप्रभान्।सालां स्तालांश्च पुन्नागान्ककुभान्वञ्जुलान्धवान्।।4.50.25।।चम्पकान् नागवृक्षांश्च कर्णिकारांश्च पुष्पितान्।स्तबकैः काञ्चनैश्चित्रै रक्तै: किसलयैस्तथा।।4.50.26।।आपीडैश्च लताभिश्च हेमाभरणभूषितान्।तरुणादित्यसङ्काशान्वैढूर्यकृतवेदिकान्।।4.50.27।।विभ्राजमानान्वपुषा पादपांश्च हिरण्मयान्।नीलवैढूर्यवर्णाश्च पद्मिनीः पतगावृताः।।4.50.28।।महद्भि: काञ्चनैः पद्मैर्वृता बालार्कसन्निभैः।
tatastaṁ deśamāgamya saumyā vitimiraṁ vanam॥4.50.24॥
dadṛśuḥ kāñcanān vṛkṣān dīptavaiśvānaraprabhān |
sālāṁ stālāṁś ca punnāgān kakubhān vañjulān dhavān॥4.50.25॥
campakān nāgavṛkṣāṁś ca karṇikārāṁś ca puṣpitān |
stabakaiḥ kāñcanaiś citraiḥ raktaiḥ kisalayais tathā॥4.50.26॥
āpīḍaiś ca latābhiś ca hemābharaṇabhūṣitān |
taruṇādityasaṅkāśān vaiḍūryakṛtavedikān॥4.50.27॥
vibhrājamānān vapuṣā pādapāṁś ca hiraṇmayān |
nīlavaiḍūryavarṇāś ca padminīḥ patagāvṛtāḥ॥4.50.28॥
mahadbhiḥ kāñcanaiḥ padmair vṛtā bālārkasannibhaiḥ |
Então aqueles macacos de natureza suave, ao chegarem àquela região, viram uma floresta sem escuridão. Viram árvores douradas, ardendo como o brilho do fogo: śāla e tāla, punnāga e kakubha, vañjula e dhava; e também campaka, árvores nāga e karnikāra em flor. As árvores estavam ornadas com maravilhosos cachos de flores de ouro e tenros brotos vermelhos, e com trepadeiras entrelaçadas como adornos de ouro. Havia altares e plataformas incrustados de vaidūrya; e as árvores, de aspecto áureo, resplandeciam em beleza. Lagos de lótus, azuis como o vaidūrya, estavam cheios de aves e cobertos por grandes lótus dourados semelhantes ao fulgor do sol nascente.
Having reached inside the cave the monkeys saw a forest shining like blazing fire, dispelling the surrounding darkness. There they noticed sala, tala, tamala, punnaga, vanjjula, dhava, champaka, and naga trees. They also saw blossoming plants of Karnikara, bunches of beautiful golden flowers and tender redcoloured leaves.They saw wonderful trees with creepers on top entwining them, and ornamented with gold (like golden fruits), radiant like the dazzling rising Sun. There were altars encrusted with precious sapphire and vaidurya. The golden trees were shining bright. There were lotus creepers looking like sapphire and vaidurya.The ponds were filled with golden lotuses and were surrounded by birds.
FAQs
The verse presents alluring splendor, implicitly testing steadfastness: dharma here is maintaining focus on one’s entrusted mission despite distraction by beauty and luxury.
The vanaras enter a wondrous, light-filled region (within a cavern-like realm) and witness extraordinary golden vegetation, gem-inlaid structures, and lotus-ponds.
Self-control and disciplined attention (dama/saṁyama) are implied as necessary virtues for the vanaras, who must not lose their purpose amid enchantment.