Shloka 4

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

विबुध्यतु यथाकालं राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्।स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरो वैदेहीमन्वचिन्तयत्।।5.18.4।।

Transliteration

vibudhyata yathākālaṃ rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān |

srastamālyāmbaradharo vaidehīm anvacintayat ||5.18.4||

Translation

Zur gewohnten Stunde erwachend, richtete der machtvolle Herr der Rākṣasas—mit noch zerzauster Girlande und Gewand—seinen Sinn erneut auf Vaidehī (Sītā).

Word by Word

• विबुध्यतु: (he) awoke / let him awake
• विबुध्यतु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + budh (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person imperative), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• यथाकालम्: at the proper time
• यथाकालम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial: ‘according to time’), अव्ययभावेन प्रयुक्तम्

• राक्षसेन्द्रः: the lord of demons
• राक्षसेन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘lord of rākṣasas’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रतापवान्: valiant, mighty
• प्रतापवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratāpa-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राक्षसेन्द्रः इति विशेषणम्

• स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरः: wearing dishevelled garland and clothes
• स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: srasta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘one who wears loosened garland and garments’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वैदेहीम्: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• वैदेहीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अन्वचिन्तयत्: thought of, reflected on
• अन्वचिन्तयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + cint (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Hanuman, possessed of extraordinary energy, was taken aback at the might of Ravana. He remained hiding covered over with leaves.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vaidehī (Sītā)

FAQs

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

The verse implicitly contrasts dharma with uncontrolled desire: a ruler’s mind should rest in self-restraint and righteousness, not in obsessive, unlawful craving for another’s wife.

What is the narrative situation?

After waking, Rāvaṇa—still in the aftereffects of indulgence—immediately thinks of Sītā, indicating his continuing fixation before he goes toward Aśokavanikā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through negation), the virtue highlighted is self-control (dama) and purity of intent—qualities Rāvaṇa lacks here.