Shloka 24

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

वापीश्च विविधाकाराः पूर्णाः परमवारिणा।

महार्हैर्मणिसोपानैरुपपन्नास्ततस्ततः।।5.14.22।।

मुक्ताप्रवालसिकताः स्फाटिकान्तरकुट्टिमाः।

काञ्चनैस्तरुभिश्चित्रैस्तीरजैरुपशोभिताः।।5.14.23।।

फुल्लपद्मोत्पलवनाश्चक्रवाकोपकूजिताः।

नत्यूहरुतसंघुष्टा हंससारसनादिताः।।5.14.24।।

दीर्घाभिर्द्रुमयुक्ताभिः सरद्भिश्च समन्ततः।

अमृतोपमतोयाभिश्शिवाभिरुपसंस्कृताः।।5.14.25।।

लताशतैरवततास्सन्तानकुसुमावृताः।

नानागुल्मावृतघनाः करवीरकृतान्तराः।।5.14.26।।

Transliteration

phulla-padmotpala-vanāś cakravākopakūjitāḥ |

natyūha-ruta-saṅghuṣṭā haṃsa-sārasa-nāditāḥ ||5.14.24||

Translation

اُن میں کھلے ہوئے کنول اور نیلوفر کے جھنڈ تھے؛ چکروَاک پرندوں کی کوک سے گونجتے، نَتیوُہ کی آوازوں سے ہلچل مچتی، اور ہنسوں و سارَس کی صداؤں سے بھرے ہوئے تھے۔

Word by Word

• phulla-padma-utpala-vanāḥ: having groves of blooming lotuses and water-lilies
• phulla-padma-utpala-vanāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phulla (प्रातिपदिक) + padma (प्रातिपदिक) + utpala (प्रातिपदिक) + vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; तत्पुरुष (फुल्लानि पद्मोत्पलानि यस्मिन् तत् वनम्; तद्वतीः)

• cakravāka-upakūjitāḥ: resounding with cakravāka birds
• cakravāka-upakūjitāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cakravāka (प्रातिपदिक) + upakūjita (कृदन्त from √kūj; क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; तत्पुरुष (चक्रवाकैः उपकूजिताः = resounding with cakravāka calls)

• natyūha-ruta-saṅghuṣṭāḥ: noisy with natyūha cries
• natyūha-ruta-saṅghuṣṭāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: natyūha (प्रातिपदिक) + ruta (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅghuṣṭa (कृदन्त from √ghuṣ; क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; तत्पुरुष (नत्यूहानां रुतेन संघुष्टाः)

• haṃsa-sārasa-nāditāḥ: sounding with swans and sārasa birds
• haṃsa-sārasa-nāditāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: haṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + sārasa (प्रातिपदिक) + nādita (कृदन्त from √nad; क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; द्वन्द्व (हंसाश्च सारसाश्च) + क्तान्त (नादिताः = sounded)

Context

 He observed ponds of different shapes filled with clear water with steps paved with rich gems, with sands of pearls and corals and bottoms of crystal, which contained beds of lotuses in bloom, adorned with chakravaka birds and resonant with cacklings of swans and sarasas and vatyuhas rubbing their beaks. There were golden platforms built on banks and platforms built of crystals. There were trees on the bank of streams, and nectarlike sacred waters flowing in them surrounded by hundreds of creepers, and Ashoka blossoms scattered everywhere, with thickly grown bushes of different kinds, with lilies in bloom in tanks.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• cakravāka
• haṃsa
• sārasa

FAQs

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

The moral undertone is steadiness amid sensory experience: the world can be harmonious and alluring, yet Dharma requires that one’s inner aim—truthful duty—remain primary. The Ramayana repeatedly contrasts pleasing environments with the necessity of righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman continues his reconnaissance of Lanka, noticing ponds alive with lotus-beds and the layered soundscape of water-birds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentive intelligence (buddhi) joined to restraint: Hanuman observes details carefully for situational awareness, without losing the ethical compass of his mission.