Valmiki Ramayana 5.14.25 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 25

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

वापीश्च विविधाकाराः पूर्णाः परमवारिणा।महार्हैर्मणिसोपानैरुपपन्नास्ततस्ततः।।5.14.22।।मुक्ताप्रवालसिकताः स्फाटिकान्तरकुट्टिमाः।काञ्चनैस्तरुभिश्चित्रैस्तीरजैरुपशोभितैः।।5.14.23।।फुल्लपद्मोत्पलवनाश्चक्रवाकोपकूजिताः।नत्यूहरुतसंघुष्टा हंससारसनादिताः।।5.14.24।।दीर्घाभिर्द्रुमयुक्ताभिः सरद्भिश्च समन्ततः।अमृतोपमतोयाभिश्शिवाभिरुपसंस्कृताः।।5.14.25।।लताशतैरवततास्सन्तानकुसुमावृताः।नानागुल्मावृतघनाः करवीरकृतान्तराः।।5.14.26।।

Transliteration

dīrghābhir drumayuktābhiḥ saradbhiś ca samantataḥ |

amṛtopama-toyābhiḥ śivābhir upasaṃskṛtāḥ ||5.14.25||

Translation

چاروں طرف درختوں سے آراستہ لمبی نہریں اور نالے بہہ رہے تھے؛ اُن کا پانی امرت جیسا تھا—مبارک اور باغ کی ترتیب کے مطابق نہایت سلیقے سے سنوارا گیا تھا۔

Word by Word

• dīrghābhiḥ: with long
• dīrghābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया; Instrumental plural (by/with long ...)

• druma-yuktābhiḥ: endowed with trees
• druma-yuktābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: druma (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त from √yuj; क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया; तत्पुरुष (द्रुमैः युक्ताः)

• saradbhiḥ: with streams
• saradbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया; Instrumental plural (with streams)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction (and)

• samantataḥ: all around
• samantataḥ: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण); adverb (on all sides)

• amṛta-upama-toyābhiḥ: with nectar-like water
• amṛta-upama-toyābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक) + toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया; तत्पुरुष (अमृतस्य उपमा यस्य तत् तोयम्; तद्भिः)

• śivābhiḥ: with auspicious (waters)
• śivābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया; Instrumental plural (auspicious/pure)

• upasaṃskṛtāḥ: well-adorned / refined
• upasaṃskṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-saṃ-√kṛ (धातु; क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP (well-prepared/adorned)

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

FAQs

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

The verse supports the Ramayana’s wider teaching that auspiciousness (śiva) and refinement can exist as external order, but Dharma is validated by right intention and right conduct. The listener is invited to distinguish cultivated beauty from moral worth.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman’s survey expands from ponds to the surrounding watercourses—tree-lined streamlets with carefully maintained, pleasant waters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Persevering vigilance: Hanuman methodically scans the terrain, building a mental map of Lanka while remaining committed to truthfully reporting and serving Rama’s purpose.