Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 12

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

काञ्चनैरपि भृङ्गारैर्जह्रुः सलिलमग्रतः।मण्डलाग्रान् बृसीश्चापि गृह्यान्याः पृष्ठतो ययुः।।5.18.12।।

Transliteration

kāñcanair api bhṛṅgārair jahrus salilam agrataḥ |

maṇḍalāgrān bṛsīś cāpi gṛhyānyāḥ pṛṣṭhato yayuḥ ||

Translation

كانت بعضُهنَّ يتقدَّمنَ حاملاتٍ الماءَ في أباريقَ من ذهبٍ؛ وأخرياتٌ يمشينَ خلفهنَّ وهنَّ يحملنَ مقاعدَ مستديرةً وحُصُرًا منسوجة.

Word by Word

• kāñcanaiḥ: with golden
• kāñcanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् of bhṛṅgāraiḥ

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: also/even)

• bhṛṅgāraiḥ: with pitchers
• bhṛṅgāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛṅgāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• jahruḥ: carried
• jahruḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• salilam: water
• salilam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agrataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb: in front/ahead)

• maṇḍalāgrān: having rounded ends
• maṇḍalāgrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṇḍalāgra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: maṇḍalasya agraḥ (circular top/rounded end) used as qualifier of bṛsīḥ

• bṛsīḥ: couches / seats
• bṛsīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛsī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (also)

• gṛhya: having taken / holding
• gṛhya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (Gerund/Absolutive), 'having taken/holding'

• anyāḥ: others
• anyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• pṛṣṭhataḥ: behind
• pṛṣṭhataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛṣṭhataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb: from behind/behind)

• yayuḥ: went / moved
• yayuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Context

Some moved ahead of him carrying water in golden pitchers. Others followed him carrying circular couches (to be used as seats).

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (implied by context)
• Women attendants
• Water

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The scene reinforces that comfort and power are not proofs of Dharma; the Ramayana evaluates rulers by Satya and self-restraint, not by attendants and amenities.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s attendants prepare luxuries—water and seating—while accompanying him, as the narrative moves toward his encounter with Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indirectly, it highlights the coming contrast: Sītā’s virtue is inner steadfastness, not external comfort.