As Hanuman enters Ashoka Vana and takes in its magnificence, and hops from tree to tree, eager to meet with success in his search for Sita, Valmiki cannot stop himself from drawing several suggestive comparisons.
***
तथाऽम्रवणसम्पन्नाल्ँलताशतसमन्विताम् । ज्यामुक्त इव नाराचः पुप्लुवे वृक्षवाटिकाम् ॥
वृतां नानाविधैर्वृक्षैः पुष्पोपगफलोपगैः ।कोकिलैर्भृङ्गराजैश्च मत्तैर्नित्यनिषेविताम् ॥
"Then Hanuman streaked across Ashoka Vana rapidly like an arrow shot from Sri Rama's bow, amidst the thick foliage of trees and mango grove and creepers. Ashoka Vatika was full of trees of many kinds, all laden with fragrant flowers and fruits. Cuckoos, and honeybees who appeared drunk with nectar, abounded there."
Hanuman's rapid transit through Ashoka Vana stirred the large variety of birds that flew about excitedly, disturbing the colourful flowers that then scattered, with pollen dropped everywhere in a kind of celebration. Hanuman was himself soon bathed in colourful petals and pollen, looking like a forested mountain in spring.
Valmiki compares the garden carpeted with flowers to a bedecked bride. Trees that shed their flowers looked like gamblers who had to strip down after losing all their money to wagers. The ravaged garden looked like a woman ravished by her lover after much love-making.
Hanuman saw beautiful lakes. As what had now become a common sight in Lanka, many spaces were decorated with gems, jewels, gold and silver. Hanuman saw little mountains with rivulets cascading down like lovers clutching one another. There was a beautiful lake with steps for bathing. It had pearl dust laid out like sand skirting it. The whole magical Ashoka Vana was another creation of the godly architect Vishwakarma.
Hanuman spotted a large Shimshupa tree and decided to hide himself there and wait for sighting Sita.
सा रामा राजमहिषी राघवस्य प्रिया सती । वनसञ्चारकुशला ध्रुवमेष्यति जानकी ॥
यदि जीवति सा देवी ताराधिपनिभानना । आगमिष्यति सावश्यमिमां शीतजलां नदीम्॥
Hanuman thought to himself: "Let me lie in wait, hiding in this Shimshupa tree. I think that charming and noble lady, queen Janaki Sita, beloved of Sri Rama, adept in enjoying the beauties of nature in a dense forest such as this, is sure to visit here.
"If Sita is at all alive still, that divine lady with the face resembling the radiant moon will arrive here soon, certainly, to relax or wash herself in these crystal, cool waters."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
