Shloka 27

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

ताभिः परिवृतो राजा सुरूपाभिर्महायशाः।तन्मृगद्विजसङ्घुष्टं प्रविष्टः प्रमदावनम्।।5.18.27।।

Transliteration

tābhiḥ parivṛto rājā surūpābhir mahāyaśāḥ |

tan mṛgadvijasaṅghuṣṭaṃ praviṣṭaḥ pramadāvanam || 5.18.27 ||

Translation

Von jenen anmutigen Frauen umgeben, betrat der ruhmreiche König jenen Frauengarten, widerhallend von den Rufen der Tiere und Vögel.

Word by Word

• ताभिः: by those (women)
• ताभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanama, Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• परिवृतः: surrounded
• परिवृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√vṛt (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• सुरूपाभिः: by beautiful (women)
• सुरूपाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with ताभिः (women)

• महायशाः: highly renowned
• महायशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-yaśas (प्रातिपदिक; महा + यशस्)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Samāsa: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative used adjectivally; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying प्रमदावनम्

• मृगद्विजसङ्घुष्टम्: resounding with beasts and birds
• मृगद्विजसङ्घुष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛga-dvija-saṅghuṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; मृग + द्विज + सङ्घुष्ट)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष)

• प्रविष्टः: entered
• प्रविष्टः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle used as finite sense (क्त as predicate), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रमदावनम्: the pleasure-grove (women's grove)
• प्रमदावनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramadā-vana (प्रातिपदिक; प्रमदा + वन)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष)

Context

The brilliant vanara looked at the son of Visravas (Ravana), the demon king adorned with wonderful ornaments. He had long tapering ears. He was intoxicated with drink. Encircled by damsels, he was looking like the Moon surrounded by stars.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• beasts (mṛga)
• birds (dvija)

FAQs

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

The setting contrasts natural harmony with moral disorder: Dharma teaches that true kingship is not pleasure-gardens and entourage, but protection and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, accompanied by beautiful women, proceeds into the pleasure-grove within the palace grounds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse primarily builds atmosphere; implicitly it sets up Hanumān’s steadiness against a backdrop of indulgence.