Shloka 17

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः समामृदितवर्णकाः।समागळितकेशान्तास्सस्वेदवदनास्तथा।।5.18.16।।घूर्णन्त्यो मदशेषेण निद्रया च शुभाननाः।स्वेदक्लिष्टाङ्गकुसुमास्सुमाल्याकुलमूर्धजाः।।5.18.17।।प्रयान्तं नैऋतपतिं नार्यो मदिरलोचनाः।बहुमानाच्च कामाच्च प्रिया भार्यास्तमन्वयुः।।5.18.18।।

Transliteration

ghūrṇantyo mada-śeṣeṇa nidrayā ca śubhānanāḥ |

sveda-kliṣṭāṅga-kusumāḥ su-mālyākula-mūrdhajāḥ ||5.18.17||

Translation

Mit schönen Gesichtern schwankten sie, vom Rest des Rausches und vom Schlaf; die Blumen an ihren Gliedern welkten im Schweiß, und ihr Haar war von feinen Girlanden verwirrt.

Word by Word

• ghūrṇantyaḥ: reeling / swaying
• ghūrṇantyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ghūrṇ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'reeling/moving to and fro'

• madaśeṣeṇa: due to residual intoxication
• madaśeṣeṇa: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mada (प्रातिपदिक) + śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Inst/3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: madasya śeṣaḥ (residual intoxication)

• nidrayā: due to sleep
• nidrayā: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Inst/3rd), एकवचन

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

• śubhānanāḥ: fair-faced (women)
• śubhānanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: 'śubham ānanam yāsām' = fair-faced women

• svedakliṣṭāṅga-kusumāḥ: with flowers on limbs wilted by sweat
• svedakliṣṭāṅga-kusumāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sveda (प्रातिपदिक) + kliṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + kusuma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: 'svedena kliṣṭāni aṅga-kusumāni yāsām' = whose body-flowers are wilted by sweat

• su-mālya-ākula-mūrdhajāḥ: with hair crowded with fine garlands
• su-mālya-ākula-mūrdhajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + ākula (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: 'su-mālyena ākulāḥ mūrdhajāḥ yāsām' = whose hair is filled/adorned with beautiful garlands

Context

The necklaces and armlets (of the wives) disarrayed, the sandal paste and other unguents on the body smudged, hair hanging down their faces, the sweating damsels followed Ravana. They were dizzy with leftover intoxication and sleep and were swaying from side to side. Their dishevelled hair was loose and faces filled with sweat, their flower garlands on the body had wilted due to sweat on their limbs. The drunken wives of Ravana, actuated by their high regard and passion for him followed as he advanced with drunken eyes.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa’s wives
• garlands (mālya)
• flowers (kusuma)

FAQs

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

It underscores impermanence and the loss of dignity that follows heedlessness; dharma calls for steadiness and truth-aligned awareness rather than stupefaction.

What is the narrative situation?

The attendants/wives accompanying Rāvaṇa are described as reeling from intoxication and sleep, their adornments wilting and disordered.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The contrasted virtue is sobriety and mindfulness—qualities that support satya (clear seeing) and dharma (right conduct).