Sundara Kanda 14

Chapter 14

Hanuma enters the Ashoka garden and observes its beauty. He starts looking for Seetha in the garden. He thinks that Seetha would definitely come to that garden if she were to be alive.

sa muhuurtam iva dhyatvaa manasaa ca adhigamya taam |
avapluto mahaa tejaaH praakaaram tasya veshmanaH || 5-14-1

That Hanuma with great resplendence thought for a moment, obtained that Ashoka garden by mind and jumped from the compound wall of that house.

sa tu samhR^iSTa sarva angaH praakaarastho mahaa kapiH |
puSpita agraan vasanta aadau dadarsha vividhaan drumaan || 5-14-2
saalaan ashokaan bhavyaamH ca campakaamH ca supuSpitaan |
uddaalakaan naaga vR^ikSaamH cuutaan kapi mukhaan api || 5-14-3

That great Hanuma with joyful limbs, being on enclosure wall saw various trees such as Sal, beautiful Ashoka, Champaka full of flowers, Uddalaka, Naga, mango trees with their fruit in the colour of the snout of a monkey, in full blossom at the start of the spring.

atha aamra vaNa samchannaam lataa shata samaavR^itaam |
jyaa mukta iva naaraacaH pupluve vR^ikSa vaaTikaam || 5-14-4

 Thereafter Hanuma flew like a Naracha arrow released from bow string, toward the garden covered by mango trees and surrounded by hundreds of creepers.

sa praviSya vicitraam taam vihagair abhinaaditaam |
raajataiH kaancanaiH caiva paadapaiH sarvato vR^itaam || 5-14-5
vihagair mR^iga samghaiH ca vicitraam citra kaananaam |
udita aaditya samkaashaam dadarsha hanumaan kapiH || 5-14-6
vR^itaam naanaa vidhair vR^ikSaiH puSpa upaga phala upagaiH |
kokilair bhR^inga raajaiH ca mattair nitya niSevitaam || 5-14-7
prahR^iSTa manuje kale mR^iga pakSi samaakule |
matta barhiNa samghuSTaam naanaa dvija gaNa aayutaam || 5-14-8

That Hanuma the simian, saw on entering that garden filled with happy humans, animals and birds with varied hues during spring, resounded by birds, with trees made of silver, made of gold, surrounded everywhere by birds and groups of animals; wonderful with wonderful trees equaling the Sun at sunrise together with trees of various kinds which obtained flowers and fruits, served daily by Cuckoos and by dragon flies, resounded by peacocks in heat and with groups of birds of various kinds.

WEDNESDAY

maargamaaNo vara aarohaam raaja putriim aninditaam |
sukha prasuptaan vihagaan bodhayaam aasa vaanaraH || 5-14-9

Hanuma searching the royal daughter Seetha with excellent limbs and without blame, woke up birds in comfortable sleep.

utpatadbhir dvija gaNaiH pakSaiH saalaaH samaahataaH |
aneka varNaa vividhaa mumucuH puSpa vR^iSTayaH || 5-14-10

Trees hit by wings of groups of birds in flight shed showers of flowers of various colours and of various kinds.

puSpa avakiirNaH shushubhe hanumaan maaruta aatmajaH |
ashoka vanikaa madhye yathaa puSpamayo giriH || 5-14-11

The son of Lord Vayu, Hanuma sprinkled with flowers shone like a mountain of flowers in the middle of Ashoka garden.

dishaH sarva abhidaavantam vR^ikSa SaNDa gatam kapim |
dRSTvaa sarvaaNi bhuutaani vasanta iti menire || 5-14-12

Seeing Hanuma running in all directions and being in the middle of trees, all living creatures thought Him to be Vasanta, the lord of spring.

vR^ikSebhyaH patitaiH puSpair avakiirNaa pR^ithag vidhaiH |
raraaja vasudhaa tatra pramadaa iva vibhuuSitaa || 5-14-13

There the Earth sprinkled by flowers of various kinds which fell down from trees shone like a well decorated woman.

tarasvinaa te taravaH tarasaa abhiprakampitaaH |
kusumaani vicitraaNi sasRjuH kapinaa tadaa || 5-14-14

Then those trees, shaken by the might of Hanuma the mighty one, showered wonderful flowers.

THURSDAY

nirdhuuta patra shikharaaH shiirNa puSpa phala drumaaH |
nikSipta vastra aabharaNaa dhuurtaa iva paraajitaaH || 5-14-15

The trees with their branches without leaves and with fallen fruits and flowers were like defeated gamblers with their clothes and jewellery kept down.

hanuumataa vegavataa kampitaaH te naga uttamaaH |
puSpa parNa phalaani aashu mumucuH puSpa shaalinaH || 5-14-16

The excellent trees shining with best flowers fell down instantly flowers, leaves and fruits.

vihamga samghair hiinaaH te skandha maatra aashrayaa drumaaH |
babhuuvur agamaaH sarve maarutena iva nirdhutaaH || 5-14-17

All those trees losing groups of birds became being a resort to branches only like trees shook by wind.

vidhuuta keshii yuvatir yathaa mR^idita varNikaa |
niSpiita shubha danta oSThii nakhair dantaiH ca vikSataa || 5-14-18
tathaa laanguula hastaiH ca caraNaabhyaam ca marditaa |
babhuuva ashoka vanikaa prabhagna vara paadapaa || 5-14-19

Hit by Hanuma’s tail, hands and feet, Ashoka garden with broken best trees became like a young woman with disturbed hair, with effaced sandal paste, with her auspicious teeth and lips drunk from and wounded by nails and by teeth.

mahaa lataanaam daamaani vyadhamat tarasaa kapiH |
yathaa praavR^iSi vindhyasya megha jaalaani maarutaH || 5-14-20

Hanuma broke circles of great creepers by His might like the wind during rainy season, breaking the groups of clouds of mountain Vindhya.

sa tatra maNi bhuumiiH ca raajatiiH ca mano ramaaH |
tathaa kaancana bhuumiiH ca vicaran dadR^ishe kapiH || 5-14-21

That Hanuma pacing there saw diamond studded floors, silver inlaid floors, and beautiful gold inlaid floors.

vaapiiH ca vividha aakaaraaH puurNaaH parama vaariNaa |
mahaa arhair maNi sopaanair upapannaaH tataH tataH || 5-14-22
muktaa pravaala sikataa sphaTika antara kuTTimaaH |
kaancanaiH tarubhiH citraiH tiirajair upashobhitaaH || 5-14-23
phulla padma utpala vanaaH cakra vaaka upakuujitaaH |
natyuuha ruta samghuSTaa hamsa saarasa naaditaaH || 5-14-24
diirghaabhir druma yuktaabhiH saridbhiH ca samantataH |
amRta upama toyaabhiH shivaabhir upasamskR^itaaH || 5-14-25
lataa shatair avatataaH santaanaka samaavR^itaaH |
naanaa gulma aavR^ita vanaaH kara viira kR^ita antaraaH || 5-14-26

Hanuma saw ponds filled with the best waters, together there and there with stairs embedded with diamonds of great value, with pearls and corals as sand, with bottoms made of crystal and precious stones, shone by trees of golden hue and of wonderful hue at banks containing beds of lotuses in full blossom and lilies, resounded by chakravaka birds nearby, sounded by water fowls, resounded by swans and cranes, together with tall trees, with nectar like waters, with hundreds of auspicious creepers, covered by the flowers of santaana trees, surrounded by various shrubs with middle regions of karaveera and also wells and in various shapes.

FRIDAY

tato ambu dhara samkaasham pravRddha shikharam girim |
vicitra kuuTam kuuTaiH ca sarvataH parivaaritam || 5-14-27
shilaa gR^ihair avatatam naanaa vR^ikSaiH samaavR^itam |
dadarsha kapi shaarduulo ramyam jagati parvatam || 5-14-28

Thereafter the monkey warrior Hanuma saw a mountain which was a beautiful mountain in the world, equaling cloud with high peaks, with wonderful peaks surrounded in all directions by peaks, spread by caves and covered by different trees.

dadarsha ca nagaat tasmaan nadiim nipatitaam kapiH |
ankaad iva samutpatya priyasya patitaam priyaam || 5-14-29
jale nipatita agraiH ca paadapair upashobhitaam |
vaaryamaaNaam iva kruddhaam pramadaam priya bandhubhiH || 5-14-30
punar aavRtta toyaam ca dadarsha sa mahaa kapiH |
prasannaam iva kaantasya kaantaam punar upasthitaam || 5-14-31

Hanuma saw river which fell down from the mountain like a beloved (young wife) who fell down after jumping from the lap of a loved one shone by trees whose ends fell down in water or like a woman in anger being detained by her near and dear. That great Hanuma again saw that river with water, turning back like a beloved woman reaching her beloved again, being reconciled to her beloved one.

tasya aduuraat sa padminyo naanaa dvija gaNa aayutaaH |
dadarsha kapi shaarduulo hanumaan maaruta aatmajaH || 5-14-32

The best among vanaras and the son of Vayu, that Hanuma saw near to that mountain, lotus ponds together with many groups of birds.

SATURDAY

kR^itrimaam diirghikaam ca api puurNaam shiitena vaariNaa |
maNi pravara sopaanaam mukhtaa sikata shobhitaam || 5-14-33
vividhair mR^iga samghaiH ca vicitraam citra kaananaam |
praasaadaiH sumahadbhiH ca nirmitair vishva karmaNaa || 5-14-34
kaananaiH kR^ItrimaiH ca api sarvataH samalamkR^itaam |

He also saw an artificial pond filled with cold water, with steps embedded with best diamonds, shone by the sand of pearls, wonderful forest with very big buildings made by Vishwakarma, with groups of artificial trees decorated in all directions.

ye kecit paadapaaH tatra puSpa upaga phala upagaaH || 5-14-35
sac chatraaH savitardiikaaH sarve sauvarNa vedikaaH |

There whatever trees were there with flowers and fruits, all those were together with umbrellas, together with big platforms and with smaller golden platforms.

lataa prataanaiH bahubhiH parNaiH ca bahubhir vRtaam || 5-14-36
kaaJNcaniim shimshupaam ekaam dadarsha sa mahaa kapiH |
vR^itaam hemamayuubhistu vedikaabhiH samantataH || 5-14-37

The monkey warrior Hanuma saw one shimshupaa tree golden in colour covered with many groups of creepers and with many leaves surrounded everywhere with platforms made of gold.

so apashyad bhuumi bhaagaamH ca garta prasravaNaani ca |
suvarNa vR^ikSaan aparaan dadarsha shikhi samnibhaan || 5-14-38

Hanuma saw lands, mountain springs, and some other golden trees equal to fire.

teSaam drumaaNaam prabhayaa meror iva mahaa kapiH |
amanyata tadaa viiraH kaancano asmi iti vaanaraH || 5-14-39

Then the courageous Hanuma thought thus: Like the sun by the radiance of Mount Meru, by the radiance of those trees, I am of golden colour.

taam kaancanaiH taru gaNair maarutena ca viijitaam |
kinkiNii shata nirghoSaam dR^iSTvaa vismayam aagamat || 5-14-40

Seeing that shimshupaa tree with groups of trees of golden colour blown by the wind, with the sound of hundreds of tinkle bells, Hanuma got surprised.

SUNDAY

sa puSpita agraam ruciraam taruNa ankura pallavaam |
taam aaruhya mahaa vegaH shimshapaam parNa samvRtaam || 5-14-41

Hanuma with great arms climbing up that shimshupaa tree with well flowered ends, beautiful tree, mature with young shoots and leaves and covered by leaves (thought thus).

ito drakSyaami vaidehiim raama darshana laalasaam |
itaH ca itaH ca duhkha aartaam sampatantiim yadRcchayaa || 5-14-42

I will see by God’s grace, Seetha who is interested in the sight of Sri Rama while she is moving here and there with grief.

ashoka vanikaa ca iyam dR^iDham ramyaa duraatmanaH |
campakaiH candanaiH ca api bakulaiH ca vibhuuSitaa || 5-14-43

This Ashoka garden of evil-souled Ravana is definitely beautiful; it is well decorated by Champaka trees, by sandal trees and by Vakula trees.

iyam ca nalinii ramyaa dvija samgha niSevitaa |
imaam saa raama mahiSii nuunam eSyati jaanakii || 5-14-44

This pond also served by groups of birds is beautiful; that wife of Sri Rama definitely will come for this pond.

saa raama raama mahiSii raaghavasya priyaa sadaa |
vana samcaara kushalaa nuunam eSyati jaanakii || 5-14-45

The wife of Sri Rama dear to Sri Rama, a chaste wife, soul captivating one, expert at moving in forest, that Janaki will definitely come.

athavaa mR^iga shaava akSii vanasya asya vicakSaNaa |
vanam eSyati saa ca iha raama cintaa anukarshitaa || 5-14-46

Otherwise one with the eyes of a deer, emaciated by the thought of Sri Rama, that noble one will come for this garden.

MONDAY

raama shoka abhisamtaptaa saa devii vaama locanaa |
vana vaasa rataa nityam eSyate vana caariNii || 5-14-47

Tortured by grief for Sri Rama, with beautiful eyes, interested always living in the garden, that Devi moving about in the garden will come.

vane caraaNaam satatam nuunam spR^ihayate puraa |
raamasya dayitaa bhaaryaa janakasya sutaa satii|| 5-14-48

The beloved wife of Sri Rama, the daughter of king Janaka, the chaste wife, earlier always was interested the denizens of the garden. This is true.

samdhyaa kaala manaaH shyaamaa dhruvam eSyati jaanakii |
nadiim ca imaam shiva jalaam samdhyaa arthe vara varNinii || 5-14-49

The ever youthful one with the best complexion, Seetha interested in the rites of Sandhya time will definitely come to this river with the auspicious water for Sandhya rite.

tasyaaH ca api anuruupeyam ashoka vanikaa shubhaa |
shubhaa yaa paarthiva indrasya patnii raamasya sammitaa || 5-14-50

Whoever Seetha, the auspicious wife, a dear one of Sri Rama, the king of kings, to that Seetha this Ashoka garden, an auspicious one, is well suited also.

yadi jivati saa devii taaraa adhipa nibha aananaa |
aagamiSyati saa avashyam imaam shiva jalaam nadiim || 5-14-51

That Devi with the face like that of the moon, if alive, she definitely will come for this river with auspicious water.

evam tu matvaa hanumaan mahaatmaa |
pratiikSamaaNo manuja indra patniim ||
avekSamaaNaH ca dadarsha sarvam |
supuSpite parNa ghane niliinaH || 5-14-52

The great-souled Hanuma thus thinking being concealed in the mass of well flowered leaves saw everything observing everywhere.

ityaarshhe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakssNDe chaturdashaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 14th chapter in Sundara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.