Sundara Kanda · Sarga 14 of 68 · 52 verses
Into the Ashoka Grove
Hanuman leaps from the palace wall into the Ashoka grove, Ravana’s garden, full of shala, ashoka, campaka and mango trees in early-spring bloom. As he moves through it he wakes the sleeping birds; their wings shake down showers of blossom, until Hanuman himself, covered in flowers, looks like a mountain made of flowers, and every creature thinks spring itself has arrived. His passing strips and shakes the trees like a game lost by gamblers.
The grove is a marvel: grounds of jewel, silver and gold, wells with jewelled steps and sands of pearl and coral, lotus pools loud with water birds, a cloud-like hill with stone houses, a stream falling from it like a lover from her beloved’s lap. In the middle stands a golden shimshapa tree ringed with golden platforms, among trees so bright that Hanuman feels he has turned to gold himself. He climbs into it and hides among its leaves. From here, he reasons, he will see Vaidehi: a lover of forests, she will surely come to this lovely pool at twilight to perform her evening rites, if she lives.
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स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा मनसा चाधिगम्य ताम् । अवप्लुतो महातेजाः प्राकारं तस्य वेश्मनः ॥ १ ॥
Having pondered as if for a moment and reached her in his mind, the radiant one leapt down onto the wall of that palace.
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स तु संहृष्टसर्वांगः प्राकारस्थो महाकपिः । पुष्पिताग्रान् वसन्तादौ ददर्श विविधान् द्रुमान् ॥ २ ॥
Standing on the wall, the great monkey, every limb thrilling, saw various trees with flowering tops at the start of spring:
सालानशोकान् भव्यांश्च चम्पकांश्च सुपुष्पितान् । उद्दालकान् नागवृक्षांश्चूतान् कपिमुखानपि ॥ ३ ॥
shalas and ashokas, fine campakas in full flower, uddalakas, naga trees, mangoes and kapimukhas,
तथाऽऽम्रवणसम्पन्नाँल्लताशतसमन्वितान् । ज्यामुक्त इव नाराचः पुप्लुवे वृक्षवाटिकाम् ॥ ४ ॥
and groves of mango trees wound with hundreds of creepers. Like an iron arrow released from the bowstring, he leapt into the garden of trees.
स प्रविश्य विचित्रां तां विहगैरभिनादिताम् । राजतैः काञ्चनैश्चैव पादपैः सर्वतो वृताम् ॥ ५ ॥
Entering that wonderful garden, echoing with birds, ringed everywhere with trees of silver and gold,
विहगैर्मृगसङ्घैश्च विचित्रां चित्रकाननाम् । उदितादित्यसंकाशां ददर्श हनुमान् बली ॥ ६ ॥
bright with birds and herds of deer, with its many-coloured woods, mighty Hanuman saw it shining like the rising sun.
वृतां नानाविधैर्वृक्षैः पुष्पोपगफलोपगैः । कोकिलैर्भृङ्गराजैश्च मत्तैर्नित्यनिषेविताम् ॥ ७ ॥
It was filled with trees of many kinds bearing flowers and fruit, always haunted by excited cuckoos and black bees;
प्रहृष्टमनुजां काले मृगपक्षिमदाकुलाम् । मत्तबर्हिणसंघुष्टां नानाद्विजगणायुताम् ॥ ८ ॥
its people were glad in that season; it was full of the delight of beasts and birds, loud with excited peacocks, crowded with flocks of many birds.
मार्गमाणो वरारोहां राजपुत्रीमनिन्दिताम् । सुखप्रसुप्तान् विहगान् बोधयामास वानरः ॥ ९ ॥
Searching for the fair-hipped, blameless princess, the monkey woke the birds sleeping happily.
उत्पतद्भिर्द्विजगणैः पक्षैर्वातैः समाहताः । अनेकवर्णा विविधा मुमुचुः पुष्पवृष्टयः ॥ १० ॥
Struck by the wind of the wings of the flocks flying up, the trees let fall many showers of flowers of many colours.
पुष्पावकीर्णः शुशुभे हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । अशोकवनिकामध्ये यथा पुष्पमयो गिरिः ॥ ११ ॥
Strewn with flowers, Hanuman, son of the Wind, shone in the middle of the Ashoka grove like a mountain made of flowers.
दिशः सर्वाभिधावन्तं वृक्षखण्डगतं कपिम् । दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि वसन्त इति मेनिरे ॥ १२ ॥
Seeing the monkey rushing in every direction among the clumps of trees, all creatures thought it was Spring.
वृक्षेभ्यः पतितैः पुष्पैरवकीर्णाः पृथग्विधैः । रराज वसुधा तत्र प्रमदेव विभूषिता ॥ १३ ॥
Strewn with the various flowers fallen from the trees, the earth there shone like a woman adorned.
तरस्विना ते तरवस्तरसा बहु कम्पिताः । कुसुमानि विचित्राणि ससृजुः कपिना तदा ॥ १४ ॥
Shaken hard and often by the swift monkey, those trees then let fall their many-coloured flowers.
निर्धूतपत्रशिखराः शीर्णपुष्पफलद्रुमाः । निक्षिप्तवस्त्राभरणा धूर्ता इव पराजिताः ॥ १५ ॥
With their leafy tops shaken bare and their flowers and fruit fallen, they were like gamblers beaten, their clothes and ornaments thrown down.
हनूमता वेगवता कम्पितास्ते नगोत्तमाः । पुष्पपत्रफलान्याशु मुमुचुः फलशालिनः ॥ १६ ॥
Shaken by swift Hanuman, those best of trees, rich in fruit, quickly let fall flowers, leaves and fruit.
विहंगसङ्घैर्हीनास्ते स्कन्धमात्राश्रया द्रुमाः । बभूवुरगमाः सर्वे मारुतेन विनिर्धुताः ॥ १७ ॥
Deserted by the flocks of birds, left with only their trunks to hold to, all the trees, shaken by the Wind’s son, stood bare.
विधूतकेशी युवतिर्यथा मृदितवर्णका । निपीतशुभदन्तोष्ठी नखैर्दन्तैश्च विक्षता ॥ १८ ॥
Like a young woman with dishevelled hair, her cosmetics smudged, her lovely teeth and lips kissed, scratched by nails and teeth,
तथा लांगूलहस्तैस्तु चरणाभ्यां च मर्दिता । तथैवाशोकवनिका प्रभग्नवनपादपा ॥ १९ ॥
so was the Ashoka grove, crushed by tail, hands and feet, its forest trees broken.
महालतानां दामानि व्यधमत् तरसा कपिः । यथा प्रावृषि वेगेन मेघजालानि मारुतः ॥ २० ॥
The monkey swiftly scattered the hanging garlands of the great creepers, as in the rains the wind scatters the masses of cloud.
स तत्र मणिभूमीश्च राजतीश्च मनोरमाः । तथा काञ्चनभूमीश्च विचरन् ददृशे कपिः ॥ २१ ॥
Roaming there, the monkey saw grounds of jewel and lovely grounds of silver, and grounds of gold too.
वापीश्च विविधाकाराः पूर्णाः परमवारिणा । महार्हैर्मणिसोपानैरुपपन्नास्ततस्ततः ॥ २२ ॥
He saw wells of many shapes, full of the finest water, fitted here and there with costly jewelled steps,
मुक्ताप्रवालसिकताः स्फाटिकान्तरकुट्टिमाः । काञ्चनैस्तरुभिश्चित्रैस्तीरजैरुपशोभिताः ॥ २३ ॥
with sands of pearl and coral, floors of crystal within, adorned on their banks with wonderful golden trees;
बुद्धपद्मोत्पलवनाश्चक्रवाकोपशोभिताः । नत्यूहरुतसंघुष्टा हंससारसनादिताः ॥ २४ ॥
with beds of blooming lotus and lily, graced by chakravakas, resounding with the cries of waterhens, echoing with swans and cranes;
दीर्घाभिर्द्रुमयुक्ताभिः सरिद्भिश्च समन्ततः । अमृतोपमतोयाभिः शिवाभिरुपसंस्कृताः ॥ २५ ॥
surrounded on every side by long streams lined with trees, their water like nectar, auspicious;
लताशतैरवतताः संतानकुसुमावृताः । नानागुल्मावृतवनाः करवीरकृतान्तराः ॥ २६ ॥
spread with hundreds of creepers, covered with santanaka flowers, their woods full of many shrubs, karavira bushes in between.
ततोऽम्बुधरसंकाशं प्रवृद्धशिखरं गिरिम् । विचित्रकूटं कूटैश्च सर्वतः परिवारितम् ॥ २७ ॥
Then the tiger among monkeys saw a lovely mountain like a cloud, its peak towering, with wonderful summits ringed all round with peaks,
शिलागृहैरवततं नानावृक्षसमावृतम् । ददर्श कपिशार्दूलो रम्यं जगति पर्वतम् ॥ २८ ॥
spread with houses of stone, covered with many trees: a mountain lovely in the world.
ददर्श च नगात् तस्मान्नदीं निपतितां कपिः । अंकादिव समुत्पत्य प्रियस्य पतितां प्रियाम् ॥ २९ ॥
And the monkey saw a river falling from that mountain, like a beloved woman leaping up from her lover’s lap and falling away,
जले निपतिताग्रैश्च पादपैरुपशोभिताम् । वार्यमाणामिव क्रुद्धां प्रमदां प्रियबन्धुभिः ॥ ३० ॥
graced with trees whose tips dipped in the water, like an angry woman being held back by her dear kin;
पुनरावृत्ततोयां च ददर्श स महाकपिः । प्रसन्नामिव कान्तस्य कान्तां पुनरुपस्थिताम् ॥ ३१ ॥
and the great monkey saw it with its water turning back again, like a beloved woman, appeased, returning to her lover.
तस्यादूरात् स पद्मिन्यो नानाद्विजगणायुताः । ददर्श कपिशार्दूलो हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥ ३२ ॥
Not far from it the tiger among monkeys, Hanuman, son of the Wind, saw lotus pools thronged with flocks of many birds,
कृत्रिमां दीर्घिकां चापि पूर्णां शीतेन वारिणा । मणिप्रवरसोपानां मुक्तासिकतशोभिताम् ॥ ३३ ॥
and an artificial lake full of cool water, with steps of the finest jewels, shining with sands of pearl;
विविधैर्मृगसङ्घैश्च विचित्रां चित्रकाननाम् । प्रासादैः सुमहद्भिश्च निर्मितैर्विश्वकर्मणा ॥ ३४ ॥
a garden bright with many herds of deer, with great palaces built by Vishvakarman,
काननैः कृत्रिमैश्चापि सर्वतः समलंकृताम् । ये केचित् पादपास्तत्र पुष्पोपगफलोपगाः ॥ ३५ ॥
and adorned all round with artificial woods. Whatever trees were there, bearing flowers and fruit,
सच्छत्राः सवितर्दीकाः सर्वे सौवर्णवेदिकाः । लताप्रतानैर्बहुभिः पर्णैश्च बहुभिर्वृताम् ॥ ३६ ॥
all had canopies and seats beneath them, all had golden platforms. Covered with many spreading creepers and with much foliage,
काञ्चनीं शिंशपामेकां ददर्श स महाकपिः । वृतां हेममयीभिस्तु वेदिकाभिः समन्ततः ॥ ३७ ॥
the great monkey saw a single golden shimshapa tree, surrounded all round by golden platforms.
सोऽपश्यद् भूमिभागांश्च नगप्रस्रवणानि च । सुवर्णवृक्षानपरान् ददर्श शिखिसंनिभान् ॥ ३८ ॥
He saw stretches of ground and mountain springs, and saw other golden trees like flames.
तेषां द्रुमाणां प्रभया मेरोरिव महाकपिः । अमन्यत तदा वीरः काञ्चनोऽस्मीति सर्वतः ॥ ३९ ॥
By the radiance of those trees, as if by that of Meru, the heroic great monkey then thought, “I have turned to gold all over.”
तान् काञ्चनान् वृक्षगणान् मारुतेन प्रकम्पितान् । किङ्किणीशतनिर्घोषान् दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमागमत् ॥ ४० ॥
Seeing those clumps of golden trees shaken by the wind, ringing with hundreds of little bells, he was filled with wonder.
सुपुष्पिताग्रान् रुचिरांस्तरुणाङ्कुरपल्लवान् । तामारुह्य महावेगः शिंशपां पर्णसंवृताम् ॥ ४१ ॥
With their beautiful flowering tops and tender young shoots: climbing that shimshapa, thick with leaves, the swift one thought,
इतो द्रक्ष्यामि वैदेहीं रामदर्शनलालसाम् । इतश्चेतश्च दुःखार्तां सम्पतन्तीं यदृच्छया ॥ ४२ ॥
“From here I shall see Vaidehi, longing to see Rama, wandering this way and that, stricken with sorrow, as chance leads her.
अशोकवनिका चेयं दृढं रम्या दुरात्मनः । चन्दनैश्चम्पकैश्चापि बकुलैश्च विभूषिता ॥ ४३ ॥
“This Ashoka grove of the evil one is truly lovely, adorned with sandal trees, campakas and bakulas.
इयं च नलिनी रम्या द्विजसङ्घनिषेविता । इमां सा राजमहिषी नूनमेष्यति जानकी ॥ ४४ ॥
“And this lotus pool is lovely, frequented by flocks of birds. Surely the queen, Janaki, will come to it.
सा रामा राजमहिषी राघवस्य प्रिया सती । वनसंचारकुशला ध्रुवमेष्यति जानकी ॥ ४५ ॥
“That lady, the queen, Raghava’s dear and virtuous wife, skilled in roaming forests, Janaki, will surely come here.
अथवा मृगशावाक्षी वनस्यास्य विचक्षणा । वनमेष्यति साद्येह रामचिन्तासुकर्शिता ॥ ४६ ॥
“Or the fawn-eyed lady, who knows this forest well, will come today into the wood, worn thin by thinking of Rama.
रामशोकाभिसंतप्ता सा देवी वामलोचना । वनवासरता नित्यमेष्यते वनचारिणी ॥ ४७ ॥
“That goddess with lovely eyes, burning with grief for Rama, who loves forest life, will come here, a woman of the woods.
वनेचराणां सततं नूनं स्पृहयते पुरा । रामस्य दयिता चार्या जनकस्य सुता सती ॥ ४८ ॥
“Surely she always longed for those who live in the forest, Rama’s beloved, the noble daughter of Janaka.
संध्याकालमनाः श्यामा ध्रुवमेष्यति जानकी । नदीं चेमां शुभजलां संध्यार्थे वरवर्णिनी ॥ ४९ ॥
“With her mind on the time of twilight, the dark lady Janaki, fair of complexion, will surely come to this river of pure water for the twilight rite.
तस्याश्चाप्यनुरूपेयमशोकवनिका शुभा । शुभायाः पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य पत्नी रामस्य सम्मता ॥ ५० ॥
“And this lovely Ashoka grove is fit for her, the lovely wife of Rama, lord of kings, whom he so esteems.
यदि जीवति सा देवी ताराधिपनिभानना । आगमिष्यति सावश्यमिमां शीतजलां नदीम् ॥ ५१ ॥
“If that goddess with a face like the lord of the stars is alive, she will certainly come to this river of cool water.”
एवं तु मत्वा हनुमान् महात्मा प्रतीक्षमाणो मनुजेन्द्रपत्नीम् । अवेक्षमाणश्च ददर्श सर्वं सुपुष्पिते पर्णघने निलीनः ॥ ५२ ॥
Thinking so, great-souled Hanuman, waiting for the wife of the lord of men and watching, saw everything, hidden in the flowering, thick-leaved tree.