Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 23

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

कामदर्पमदैर्युक्तं जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम्।समक्षमिव कन्दर्पमपविद्धशरासनम्।।5.18.23।।

Transliteration

kāmadarpamadair yuktaṃ jihmatāmrāyatekṣaṇam |

samakṣam iva kandarpam apaviddhaśarāsanam || 5.18.23 ||

Translation

كان غارقًا في الشهوة والكِبر والسُّكر؛ عيناه طويلتان مائلتان محمرّتان، كأنّ كاما إلهَ الهوى قائمٌ بإزائه وقد ألقى قوسه وسهامه جانبًا.

Word by Word

• कामदर्पमदैः: with lust, pride, and intoxication
• कामदर्पमदैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma-darpa-mada (प्रातिपदिक; काम + दर्प + मद)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); Samāsa: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) (enumerative)

• युक्तम्: endowed
• युक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yuj (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with implied object (tam)

• जिह्मताम्रायत-ईक्षणम्: having curved, copper-reddish eyes
• जिह्मताम्रायत-ईक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jihma-tāmrāyata-īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; जिह्म + ताम्रायत + ईक्षण)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष)

• समक्षम्: directly, before the eyes
• समक्षम्: Desha/Adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samakṣa (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb/अव्यय (in presence, directly)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of comparison/उपमा-बोधक अव्यय

• कन्दर्पम्: Kandarpa (god of love)
• कन्दर्पम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kandarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object of implied comparison

• अपविद्धशरासनम्: having cast aside the bow
• अपविद्धशरासनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apa-viddha-śarāsana (प्रातिपदिक; अपविद्ध + शरासन)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष)

Context

He was playfully pulling up his upper garment that slipped and stuck to his armlet. This excellent unsoiled robe was looking like the foam of churned nectar.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Kandarpa (Kāma/Cupid)

FAQs

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

Dharma warns against kāma (unrestrained desire), mada (intoxication), and darpa (arrogance), which distort perception and lead to adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān visually assesses Rāvaṇa’s condition and demeanor as he approaches.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity through observation: Hanumān identifies the adharma-marked traits in Rāvaṇa without fear or fascination.