Shloka 32

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

स तामसितकेशान्तां सुश्रोणीं संहतस्त्नीम्।दिदृक्षुरसितापाङ्गामुपावर्तत रावणः।।5.18.32।।

Transliteration

sa tām asitakeśāntāṃ suśroṇīṃ saṃhatastanīm |

didṛkṣur asitāpāṅgām upāvartata rāvaṇaḥ ||5.18.32||

Translation

In dem Verlangen, sie zu sehen — die Dunkelhaarige, mit schönen Hüften, voller Brust und seitwärts blickenden Augen unter schwarzen Wimpern — wandte sich Rāvaṇa wieder zu ihr zurück.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• असितकेशान्ताम्: dark-haired (with black hair ends)
• असितकेशान्ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित-केश-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (असिताः केशाः अन्ते यस्याः/असितकेशान्ता)

• सुश्रोणीम्: beautiful-hipped
• सुश्रोणीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-श्रोणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सुश्रोणी = शोभना श्रोणी यस्याः)

• संहतस्तनीम्: full-breasted
• संहतस्तनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संहत-स्तनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (संहताः स्तनौ यस्याः)

• दिदृक्षुः: desiring to see
• दिदृक्षुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: इच्छार्थक-कृदन्त (सन्-प्रत्ययान्त/Desiderative participial adjective), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘wishing to see’

• असितापाङ्गाम्: dark-eyed at the corners (dark side-glances)
• असितापाङ्गाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित-अपाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (असितः अपाङ्गः यस्याः)

• उपावर्तत: returned, turned back
• उपावर्तत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु) + उप + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Watching the garden filled with trees, gateways ornamented with gold and gems, he entered through the pleasant pathways in the Ashoka garden. There were wonderful wolves and several herds of animals in the garden. Fruits dropped from trees were strewn all over.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates adharma through objectifying desire; dharma upholds respect, consent, and the sanctity of marriage—principles Rāvaṇa violates.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, intent on seeing Sītā, returns/turns toward her in the Aśoka grove.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By negative example, the virtue emphasized is reverence and restraint toward others—especially toward a protected, unwilling captive.