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Read Sundarakanda Sarga 14 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. Hanumān leaps into the beautiful Ashoka Grove. Experience the lush descriptions of the trees, ponds, and birds as Hanumān navigates this garden paradise, searching for the one lady who would not be found in the decadence of the palace. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 52 | Primary Character: Hanuman (Maruti) | Key Events: Aśōkavanikā-Pravēśa (Entry into the Grove), Vana-Vibhūti-Varṇana (Description of the Forest's Wonders), Sītā-Pratīkṣā (Waiting for Sita) | Location: Ashoka Garden, Lanka |
athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe caturdaśassargaḥ
Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramanaya - 14th Sarga
aśōkavanikāvicayaḥ
Search in the Ashoka Garden
sa muhūrtamiva dhyātvā manasā cādhigamya tām | avaplutō mahātējāḥ prākāraṅ tasya vēśmanaḥ || 1
After a moment of focused reflection on Sita Devi, the great and energetic Hanuman leaped from the palace rampart onto the wall of the Ashoka Garden.
sa tu saṅhṛṣṭasarvāṅgaḥ prākārasthō mahākapiḥ | puṣpitāgrān vasantādau dadarśa vividhān drumān || 2
The great monkey Hanuman, standing on the rampart with his whole body thrilled and delighted, gazed upon many kinds of trees whose tips were laden with blossoms, as if he were seeing them in the very beginning of the spring season.
sālānaśōkān bhavyāṅśca caṅpakāṅśca supuṣpitān | uddālakānnāgavṛkṣān cūtān kapimukhānapi || 3 athāmravaṇasañchannāṅ latāśatasamāvṛtām | jyāmukta iva nārācaḥ pupluvē vṛkṣavāṭikām || 4
He saw Sāla, Ashoka, and splendid Campaka trees all blooming profusely, along with Uddālaka, Nāgavṛkṣa, and Mango trees, all veiled by mango groves and intertwined with hundreds of creepers. Then, like an arrow shot from a bowstring, the great Hanuman swiftly leaped into the garden.
sa praviśya vicitrāṅ tāṅ vihagairabhināditām | rājataiḥ kāṅcanaiścaiva pādapaiḥ sarvatō vṛtām || 5 vihagairmṛgasaṅghaiśca vicitrāṅ citrakānanām | uditādityasankāśāṅ dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ || 6
Having entered that spectacular place, Hanuman saw the wondrous forest filled with the sounds of birds chirping melodiously and herds of deer. Everywhere, the trees shimmered in silver and gold, reflecting a fresh glow like the rising sun.
vṛtāṅ nānāvidhairvṛkṣaiḥ puṣpōpagaphalōpagaiḥ | kōkilairbhṛṅgarājaiśca mattairnityaniṣēvitām || 7 prahṛṣṭamanujē kālē mṛgapakṣisamākulē | mattabarhiṇasaṅghuṣṭāṅ nānādvijagaṇāyutām || 8
Hanuman saw the picturesque garden encircled by countless varieties of trees laden with fruits and flowers. It was perpetually visited by ecstatic cuckoos, buzzing king-bees, and peacocks, while the forest was thronged with deer and various flocks of birds.
mārgamāṇō varārōhāṅ rājaputrīmaninditām | sukhaprasuptānvihagān bōdhayāmāsa vānaraḥ || 9
While Hanuman was searching for the embodiment of beauty, Sita, he inadvertently disturbed and awoke the birds that were peacefully sleeping.
utpatadbhirdvijagaṇaiḥ pakṣaiḥ sālā ssamāhatāḥ | anēkavarṇā vividhā mumucuḥ puṣpavṛṣṭayaḥ || 10
As the flocks of birds flew up, their wings struck the Sāla trees, causing them to shed multi-colored flowers in showers.
puṣpāvakīrṇaśśuśubhē hanumān mārutātmajaḥ | aśōkavanikāmadhyē yathā puṣpamayō giriḥ || 11
The great Hanuman, son of Vayu, shone brilliantly as he was covered in the scattered flowers; he looked like a mountain made entirely of blossoms.
diśassarvāḥ pradhāvantaṅ vṛkṣaṣaṇḍagataṅ kapiḥ | dṛṣṭvā sarvāṇi bhūtāni vasanta iti mēnirē || 12
As Hanuman swiftly moved through the clusters of trees, all the creatures who saw him believed him to be Vasanta, the God of Spring.
vṛkṣēbhyaḥ patitaiḥ puṣpairavakīrṇā pṛthagvidaiḥ | rarāja vasudhā tatra pramadēva vibhūṣitā || 13
The ground, strewn with various fallen flowers, shone brilliantly as if it were a beautifully adorned lady.
trasvinā tē taravaḥ tarasābhiprakampitāḥ | kusumāni vicitrāṇi sasṛjuḥ kapinā tadā || 14
nirdhūtapatraśikharāḥ śīrṇapuṣpaphalā drumāḥ | nikṣiptavastrābharaṇā dhūrtā iva parājitāḥ || 15
Shaken with great force by Hanuman, those trees released showers of colored flowers. Stripped bare of their leaves, flowers, and fruits, they resembled defeated gamblers who have lost everything.
hanūmatā vēgavatā kampitāstē nagōttamāḥ | puṣparṇaphalānyāśu mumucuḥ puṣpaśālinaḥ || 16
vihaṅgasaṅghairhīnāstē skandhamātrāśrayā drumāḥ | babhūvuragamāḥ sarvē mārutēva nirdhutāḥ || 17
Those magnificent trees shed their flowers and fruits quickly. Deprived of birds, the trees stood with bare trunks, as if everything had been swept away by the wind.
nirdhūtakēśī yuvatiryathā mṛditavarṇakā | niṣpītaśubhadantōṣṭhī nakhairdantaiśca vikṣatā || 18
tathā lāṅgūlahastaiśca caraṇābhyāṅ ca marditā | babhūvāśōkavanikā prabhagnavarapādapā || 19
The Ashoka Garden, crushed and trampled by Hanuman's tail, hands, and feet, looked like a young woman whose hair and makeup are disheveled by her lover.
mahālatānāṅ dāmāni vyathamattarasā kapiḥ | yathā prāvṛṣi vindhyasya mēghajālāni mārutaḥ || 20
Hanuman swiftly scattered the thick vines, just as the storm disperses masses of clouds over the Vindhya mountain during the rainy season.
sa tatra maṇibhūmīśca rājatīśca manōramāḥ | tathā kāñcanabhūmīśca dadarśa vicarankapiḥ || 21
Hanuman saw beautiful floors made of jewels, silver, and gold.
vāpīśca vividhākārāḥ pūrṇāḥ paramavāriṇā | mahārhairmaṇisōpānaiḥ upapannā statastataḥ || 22
muktāpravālasikatāḥ sphāṭikāntarakuṭṭimāḥ | kāñcanaistarubhi ścitraiḥ tīrajairupaśōbhitaiḥ || 23
There were pools filled with pure water featuring magnificent jewel steps. Their pavements were of crystal, with pearls and coral serving as sand beds, and banks adorned with wondrous golden trees.
phullapadmōtpalavanāḥ cakravākōpakūjitāḥ | natyūharutasaṅghuṣṭā haṅsasārasanāditāḥ || 24
dīrghābhirdrumayuktābhiḥ saradbhiśca samantataḥ | amṛtōpamatōyābhiḥ śivābhirupasaṅskṛtāḥ || 25
These waters contained blooming lotuses and were vibrant with the calls of swans, cranes, and Chakravāka birds. Tree-lined streams with nectar-like water flowed auspiciously all around.
latāśatairavatatāḥ santānakusumāvṛtāḥ | nānāgulmāvṛtaghanāḥ karavīra kṛtāntarāḥ || 26
The space was covered with hundreds of vines, celestial Santānaka flowers, and dense groves of Karavīra plants.
tatō.mbudharasaṅkāśaṅ pravṛddhaśikharaṅ girim | vicitrakūṭaṅ kūṭaiśca sarvataḥ parivāritam || 27
śilāgṛhairavatataṅ nānāvṛkṣaiḥ samāvṛtam | dadarśa hariśārdūlō ramyaṅ jagati parvatam || 28
Hanuman saw a cloud-hued elevation with lofty summits and rock dwellings surrounded by diverse trees.
dadarśa ca nagāttasmānnadīṅ nipatitāṅ kapiḥ | aṅkādiva samutpatya priyasya patitāṅ priyām || 29
jalē nipatitāgraiśca pādapairupaśōbhitām | vāryamāṇāmiva kruddhāṅ pramadāṅ priyabandhubhiḥ || 30
punarāvṛttatōyāṅ ca dadarśa sa mahākapiḥ | prasannāmiva kāntasya kāntāṅ punarupasthitām || 31
He saw a river descending from the peaks like a beloved wife leaving her husband. The water returned and became serene, like a woman pleased to be reunited with her lover.
tasyā dūrātsapadminyō nānādvijagaṇāyutāḥ | dadarśa hariśārdūlō hanumān mārutātmajaḥ || 32
At a distance, he saw beautiful lotus ponds teeming with birds.
kṛtrimāṅ dīrghikāṅ cāpi pūrṇāṅ śītēna vāriṇā | maṇipravarasōpānāṅ muktāsikataśōbhitām || 33
vividhairmṛgasaṅghaiśca vicitrāṅ citrakānanām | prāsādaissumahadbhiśca nirmitairviśvakarmaṇā || 34
kānanaiḥ kṛtrimaiścāpi sarvataḥ samalaṅkṛtām | yē kēcitpādapāstatra puṣpōpagaphalōpagāḥ || 35
sacchatrāssavitardīkāssarvē sauvarṇavaidikāḥ | latāpratānairbahubhiḥ parṇaiśca bahubhirvṛtām || 36
He saw artificial reservoirs with jewel steps and pearl-like sand. Gardens and towering mansions built by Vishwakarma surrounded trees that yielded flowers and fruit, each standing on a platform with a golden fence.
kāñcanīṅ śiṅśupāmēkāṅ dadarśa hariyūthapaḥ | vṛtāṅ hēmamayībhistu vēdikābhissamantataḥ || 37
sō.paśyadbhūmibhāgāṅśca gartaprasravaṇāni ca | suvarṇavṛkṣānaparān dadarśa śikhisannibhān || 38
He saw one golden Śiṅśupā tree surrounded by golden platforms. He also observed other golden trees that shone like flames of fire.
tēṣāṅ drumāṇāṅ prabhayā mērōriva divākaraḥ | amanyata tadā vīraḥ kāñcanō.smīti vānaraḥ || 39
tāṅ kāñcanaistarugaṇairmārutēna ca vījitām | kiṅkiṇīśatanirghōṣāṅ dṛṣṭvā vismayamāgamat || 40
Bathed in the radiance of these golden trees, Hanuman felt as if his own form had turned to gold. He was struck with wonder by the chime of small bells stirred by the wind.
sa puṣpitāgrāṅ rucirāṅ taruṇāṅkurapallavām | tāmāruhya mahābāhuśśiṅśupāṅ parṇasaṅvṛtām || 41
Hanuman climbed the beautiful Śiṅśupā tree and began to think.
itō drakṣyāmi vaidēhīṅ rāmadarśanalālasām | itaścētaśca duḥkhārtāṅ sampatantīṅ yadṛcchayā || 42
From this vantage point, I hope to see Vaidehi (Sita), who must be longing for Rama; I may spot her if she wanders this way in her sorrow.
aśōkavanikā cēyaṅ dṛḍhaṅ ramyā durātmanaḥ | campakaiścandanaiścāpi vakulaiśca vibhūṣitā || 43
iyaṅ ca nalinī ramyā dvijasaṅghaniṣēvitā | imāṅ sā rāmamahiṣī nūnamēṣyati jānakī || 44
This grove, though belonging to Ravana, is beautiful. Sita, the Queen of Rama, will surely come to this lotus pond to find solace.
sā rāmā rāmamahiṣī rāghavasya priyā satī | vanasañcārakuśalā nūnamēṣyati jānakī || 45
athavā mṛgaśābākṣī vanasyāsya vicakṣaṇā | vanamēṣyati sā.ryēha rāmacintānukarśitā || 46
Janaki, the beloved wife of Rama, who is accustomed to the forest, will surely come here emaciated by her preoccupation with Rama.
rāmaśōkābhisantaptā sā dēvī vāmalōcanā | vanavāsē ratā nityamēṣyatē vanacāriṇī || 47
vanēcarāṇāṅ satataṅ nūnaṅ spṛhayatē purā | rāmasya dayitā bhāryā janakasyasutā satī || 48
That noble lady with beautiful eyes, tormented by separation, will surely come to this garden as she is accustomed to the life of a forest-dweller.
sandhyākālamanāḥ śyāmā dhruvamēṣyati jānakī | nadīṅ cēmāṅ śubhajalāṅ sandhyārthē varavarṇinī || 49
Sita will surely come to this pure river to perform her morning rites.
tasyāścāpyanurūpēyamaśōkavanikā śubhā | śubhā yā pārthivēndrasya patnī rāmasya sammatā || 50
yadi jīvati sā dēvī tārādhipanibhānanā | āgamiṣyati sā.vaśyamimāṅ śivajalāṅ nadīm || 51
This grove is perfectly suited for the Queen of King Rama. If she is still alive, she will surely come to this river of auspicious water.
ēvaṅ tu matvā hanumān mahātmā pratīkṣamāṇō manujēndrapatnīm | avēkṣamāṇaśca dadarśa sarvaṅ supuṣpitē parṇaghanē nilīnaḥ || 52
Having thought of these possibilities, the great-souled Hanuman waited for Sita, remaining concealed within the dense, blossoming foliage.
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde caturdaśassargaḥ
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