Sundarakanda Sarga 14: Search in the Ashoka Garden 

Summary of Sarga 14

| 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 |

Section 1: The Leap into the Blossom-Laden Grove (Shlokas 1–6)

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.

Section 3: The Forest Shaken and Stripped (Shlokas 13–20)

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.

Section 5: The Mountain Peaks and the Golden Tree (Shlokas 27–41)

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.