Sundarakanda Sarga 14: Entering the Ashoka Grove (Full Text & Meaning) 

Summary of Sarga 13

| Detail | Total Shlokas: [To be updated] | Primary Character: Hanuman (Maruti) | Key Events: Aśōkavanikā-Pravēśa (Entry into the Grove), Vana-Vibūti-Varṇana (Description of the Forest's Beauty) | Location: The Ashoka Grove, Lanka | 

Section 1: The Frustrating Search for Sita (Shlokas 1–12)

vimānāttu susamkramya prākāraṅ hariyūthapaḥ | hanumānvēgavānāsīdyathā vidyudghanāntarē || 1

Hanuman, the swift commander of the Vanara army, moved with such lightning speed—like a flash streaking across the clouds and instantly vanishing—that he reached the rampart from the palace in an instant.

samparikramya hanumānrāvaṇasya nivēśanāt | adṛṣṭvā jānakīṅ sītām abravīdvacanaṅ kapiḥ || 2

Hanuman, having thoroughly circled Rāvaṇa’s palace, and not having seen Jānakī Sītā, he starting thinking.

bhūyiṣṭhaṅ lōlitā laṅkā rāmasya caratā priyam | na hi paśyāmi vaidēhīṅ sītāṅ sarvāṅgaśōbhanām || 3

For the success of Rāma's mission, I have thoroughly scoured all of Laṅkā, but still I do not see Sītā, the princess of Videha (Vaidehī), who is complete in physical perfection.

palvalāni taṭākāni sarāṅsi saritastathā nadyō.nūpavanāntāśca durgāśca dharaṇīdharāḥ | lōlitā vasudhā sarvā na tu paśyāmi jānakīm || 4

The small ponds, the tanks, and the lakes, and also the rivers; and the large rivers, the regions near the water/swamps, and the difficult/fortified mountains (or earth-bearers)—the entire earth has been thoroughly searched (or shaken/disturbed), but I do not see Jānakī.

iha sampātinā sītā rāvaṇasya nivēśanē | ākhyātā gṛdhrarājēna na ca paśyāmi tāmaham || 5

Sampati, the king of eagles, confirmed that Sita was here in Ravana’s Lanka, but I did not see her.

kiṅ nu sītā.tha vaidēhī maithilī janakātmajā | upatiṣṭhēta vivaśā rāvaṇaṅ duṣṭacāriṇam || 6

What indeed, being helpless, would Sītā, the princess of Videha (Vaidehī), the daughter of Janaka (Jānakātmajā), attend upon the wicked Rāvaṇa, the doer of evil deeds? (The implied answer is: She would not, even if forcibly kept).

kṣipramutpatatō manyē sītāmādāya rakṣasaḥ | bibhyatō rāmabāṇānāmantarā patitā bhavēt || 7

I believe that as the Rākṣasa was leaping away at great speed with Sītā—fearing Rāma’s arrows—the velocity of his flight caused Sītā to slip from his grasp and fall along the path.

athavā hriyamāṇāyāḥ pathi siddhaniṣēvitē | manyē patitamāryāyā hṛdayaṅ prēkṣya sāgaram || 8

Or, I think that the heart of the noble lady (Sītā), while she was being carried away on the path frequented by Siddhas, must have fallen (into the ocean) frightened by the sight of the ocean.

rāvaṇasyōruvēgēna bhujābhyāṅ pīḍitēna ca | tayā manyē viśālākṣyā tyaktaṅ jīvitamāryayā || 9

Due to the great speed of Rāvaṇa and being carried by his arms, I think that the noble lady (Sītā) with large eyes abandoned her life.

uparyupari vā nūnaṅ sāgaraṅ kramatastadā | vivēṣṭamānā patitā sāgarē janakātmajā || 10

Or, surely, while he was quickly traversing the ocean overhead, the daughter of Janaka (Sītā), struggling and writhing, must have fallen into the ocean.

ahō kṣudrēṇa vā.nēna rakṣantī śīlamātmanaḥ | abandhurbhakṣitā sītā rāvaṇēna tapasvinī || 11

Alas! That ascetic woman (Sītā), while protecting her own virtue, being helpless, must have been devoured by this wretched Rāvaṇa.

athavā rākṣasēndrasya patnībhirasitēkṣaṇā | aduṣṭā duṣṭabhāvābhiḥ bhakṣitā sā bhaviṣyati || 12

Or else, she of the dark eyes (Sītā), though innocent, must have been devoured by the wives of the Rākṣasa king, who were jealous of her.

Section 3: Fearing the Destruction of the Dynasties (Shlokas 25–38)

taṅ tu kṛcchragataṅ dṛṣṭvā pañcatvagatamānasam | bhṛśānuraktō mēdhāvī na bhaviṣyati lakṣmaṇaḥ || 25

If Rāma were to be overwhelmed with such severe grief that he is on the verge of death, then the wise and immensely devoted Lakṣmaṇa would not be able to bear the sight of his brother's suffering and, out of his deep love, would not survive him.

vinaṣṭau bhrātarau śrutvā bharatō.pi mariṣyati | bharataṅ ca mṛtaṅ dṛṣṭvā śatrughnō na bhaviṣyati || 26

Having heard that the two brothers (Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa) are destroyed, Bharata will also die. And having seen Bharata dead, Śatrughna will not survive.

putrān mṛtān samīkṣyātha na bhaviṣyanti mātaraḥ | kausalyā ca sumitrā ca kaikēyī ca na saṅśayaḥ || 27

And having then seen their sons dead, the mothers—Kauśalyā, Sumitrā, and Kaikēyī—will certainly not survive.

kṛtajñassatyasandhaśca sugrīvaḥ plavagādhipaḥ | rāmaṅ tathā gataṅ dṛṣṭvā tatastyakṣyati jīvitam || 28

Sugrīva, the grateful and true-to-his-word lord of the monkeys, having seen Rāma in that state (of extreme distress/death), will then abandon his life.

durmanā vyathitā dīnā nirānandā tapasvinī | pīḍitā bhartṛśōkēna rumā tyakṣyati jīvitam || 29

The ascetic Rumā (wife of Sugrīva), distressed in mind, miserable, dejected, and joyless, tormented by the grief of her husband, will abandon her life.

vālijēna tu duḥkhēna pīḍitā śōkakarśitā | pañcatvaṅ ca gatē rājñi tārā.pi na bhaviṣyati || 30

And Tārā, who is tormented by the sorrow caused by Vāli and emaciated by grief, will also not survive when the King (Sugrīva) leaves his life.

mātāpitrōrvināśēna sugrīva vyasanēna ca | kumārō.pyaṅgadaḥ kasmāt dhārayiṣyati jīvitam || 31

When his parents are destroyed (dead), and with the distress of Sugrīva, why will the young Aṅgada hold onto his life?

bhartṛjēna tu duḥkhēna hyabhibhūtā vanaukasaḥ | śirāṅsyabhihaniṣyanti talairmuṣṭibhirēva ca || 32

And the Vānaras, overcome by the sorrow caused by their king (Sugrīva), will strike their heads with their palms and with their fists.

sāntvē nānupradānēna mānēna ca yaśasvinā | lālitāḥ kapirājēna prāṇāṅstyakṣyanti vānarāḥ || 33

The Vānaras, who were cherished with consoling words and honors by the famous King Sugrīva, will (also) abandon their lives.

na vanēṣu na śailēṣu na nirōdhēṣu vā punaḥ | krīḍāmanubhaviṣyanti samētya kapikuñjarāḥ || 34

The chief Vānaras, even if they were to gather in their customary places of joy—the forests, mountains, or secluded caves—will never again find happiness or engage in their carefree pastimes.

saputradārāssāmātyā bhartṛvyasanapīḍitāḥ | śailāgrēbhyaḥ patiṣyanti samēṣu viṣamēṣu ca || 35

They, along with their sons, wives, and ministers, tormented by the calamity of their Lord, will fall from the mountain peaks, both onto level and uneven ground.

viṣamudbandhanaṅ vāpi pravēśaṅ jvalanasya vā | upavāsamathō śastraṅ pracariṣyanti vānarāḥ || 36

The Vānaras will resort to poison, or hanging by a noose, or entering the fire, or fasting unto death, or (using) a weapon.

ghōramārōdanaṅ manyē gatē mayi bhaviṣyat | ikṣvākukulanāśaśca nāśaścaiva vanaukasām || 37

I believe that a terrible, horrifying wailing will arise when I go to Kiṣkindhā, resulting in the destruction of the Ikṣvāku dynasty and the annihilation of the Vānara race.

sō.haṅ naiva gamiṣyāmi kiṣkindhāṅ nagarīmitaḥ | na ca śakṣyāmyahaṅ draṣṭuṅ sugrīvaṅ maithilīṅ vinā || 38

I (Hanumān) will certainly not go to the city of Kiṣkindhā from here, nor will I be able to see Sugrīva without Maithilī (Sītā).

Section 5: Renewed Vigilance and the Ashoka Grove (Shlokas 49–61)

rāvaṇaṅ vā vadhiṣyāmi daśagrīvaṅ mahābalam | kāmamastu hṛtā sītā pratyācīrṇaṅ bhaviṣyati || 49

Or I will kill Rāvaṇa, the mighty ten-headed one, let whatever be the outcome of Sita’s abduction; (that act) will be fully avenged/compensated.

athavainaṅ samutkṣipya uparyupari sāgara | rāmāyōpahariṣyāmi paśuṅ paśupatēriva || 50

Or, having lifted him (Rāvaṇa) up high over the ocean, I will offer him to Rāma, just as one offers a sacrificial animal to Agni.

iti cintāṅ samāpannaḥ sītāmanadhigamya tām | dhyānaśōkaparītātmā cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ || 51 yāvatsītāṅ hi paśyāmi rāmapatnīṅ yaśasvinīm | tāvadētāṅ purīṅ laṅkāṅ vicinōmi punaḥ punaḥ || 52

Hanumān, whose soul was enveloped in deep thought and sorrow, continued to ponder. As long as I do not see Sītā, the glorious wife of Rāma, so long I shall search this city of Laṅkā again and again.

sampātivacanāccāpi rāmaṅ yadyānayāmyaham | apaśyan rāghavō bhāryāṅ nirdhahētsarvavānarān || 53

And even if I bring Rāma here based on the words of Sampāti, Rāma, not seeing his wife (Sītā), would burn (destroy) all the Vānaras.

ihaiva niyatāhārō vatsyāmi niyatēndriyaḥ | na matkṛtē vinaśyēyuḥ sarvē tē naravānarāḥ || 54

I will remain here itself, having fixed my diet and with controlled senses. Let not all those men and Vānaras perish because of me.

aśōkavanikā cēyaṅ dṛśyatē yā mahādrumā | imāmadhigamiṣyāmi na hīyaṅ vicitā mayā || 55

I recognize the vast Aśoka grove before me, dense with its great trees, as the only area I have yet to search. I shall enter and search it now.

vasūn rudrāṅstathā.dityānaśvinau marutō.pi ca | namaskṛtvā gamiṣyāmi rakṣasāṅ śōkavardhanaḥ || 56

Having offered salutations to the Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas, Aśvins, and the Maruts, I will go forth as one who increases the sorrow of the Rākṣasas.

jitvā tu rākṣasān sarvānikṣvākukulanandinīm | sampradāsyāmi rāmāya yathā siddhiṅ tapasvinē || 57

Having conquered all the Rākṣasas, I will deliver the delight of the Ikṣvāku race (Sītā) to Rāma - as a fruit of austerity to a great sage.

saḥ muhūrtamiva dhyātvā cintāvagrathitēndriyaḥ | udatiṣṭhanmahātējā hanumān mārutātmajaḥ || 58

He (Hanumān), who was worried, stayed in a state of meditation. He then stood up with energy to enter into the asoka grove.

namō.stu rāmāya salakṣmaṇāya dēvyai ca tasyai janakātmajāyai | namō.stu rudrēṅdra yamānilēbhyō namō.stu candrārka marudgaṇēbhyaḥ || 59

After a moment of deep contemplation and releasing his intense worry, the greatly glorious Hanumān rose with renewed energy and resolve to enter the Aśoka grove.

sa tēbhyastu namaskṛtya sugrīvāya ca mārutiḥ | diśassarvāssamālōkya hyaśōkavanikāṅ prati || 60

He (Hanumān), having offered salutations to those deities and to Sugrīva, and having surveyed all the directions, went forth towards the Aśoka grove.

sa gatvā manasā pūrvamaśōkavanikāṅ śubhām | uttaraṅ cintayāmāsa vānarō mārutātmajaḥ || 61

He (Hanumān), having first gone to the auspicious Aśoka grove mentally, began to ponder the next course of action.