Shloka 1

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

तथा विप्रेक्ष्यमाणस्य वनं पुष्पितपादपम्।विचिन्वतश्च वैदेहीं किंचिच्छेषा निशाऽभवत्।।5.18.1।।

Transliteration

tathā viprekṣyamāṇasya vanaṃ puṣpitapādapam |

vicinvataś ca vaidehīṃ kiṃciccheṣā niśā ’bhavat ||

Translation

Während er den Hain mit seinen blühenden Bäumen absuchte und weiter nach Vaidehī forschte, blieb nur noch ein kleiner Teil der Nacht übrig.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• विप्रेक्ष्यमाणस्य: of (him) who was observing
• विप्रेक्ष्यमाणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + prekṣ (धातु) → viprekṣyamāṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/कर्तरि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव; here genitive singular qualifying the agent (Hanuman)

• वनम्: the grove/forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• पुष्पितपादपम्: having flowering trees
• पुष्पितपादपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + pādapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive: 'flowering trees'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वनम् इति विशेषणम्

• विचिन्वतः: of (him) searching
• विचिन्वतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + ci (धातु) → vicinvant (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (singular), पुंलिङ्ग; ‘of (him) searching’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• वैदेहीम्: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• वैदेहीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• किञ्चित्: a little
• किञ्चित्: Visheshaṇa (विशेषण/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiṃcit (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय (quantifier/adverbial: ‘a little’)

• शेषा: remaining
• शेषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; ‘remaining’ qualifying niśā

• निशा: night
• निशा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभवत्: was/occurred (was left)
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

Context

The night came to a close while Hanuman went searching and looking for Sita at Ashoka grove full of flowering trees.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• Aśokavanikā (flowering grove)

FAQs

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

Dharma is diligent effort: Hanumān uses limited time responsibly, persisting in a righteous search rather than yielding to fatigue.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān continues his careful search in the flowering grove; the night is nearly over, increasing urgency.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance—steady work under time pressure, guided by duty to Rāma and compassion for Sītā.