Shloka 5
अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः
Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove
भृशं नियुक्तस्तस्यां च मदनेन मदोत्कटः।न स तं राक्षसः कामं शशाकात्मनि गूहितुम्।।5.18.5।।
bhṛśaṃ niyuktas tasyāṃ ca madanena madotkaṭaḥ |
na sa taṃ rākṣasaḥ kāmaṃ śaśākātmani gūhitum ||5.18.5||
Von Leidenschaft heftig beherrscht und von berauschender Begierde aufgewühlt, vermochte jener Rākṣasa das Verlangen, das ihn zu ihr trieb, nicht in sich zu verbergen.
With the desire to see Sita endowed with black hair, beautiful hips, plump breasts and dark side-glances, Ravana returned (to Ashokavana).ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē aṣṭādaśassargaḥ.Thus ends the eighteenth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
Dharma requires mastery over desire; unchecked kāma becomes adharma, leading to harm for self and others.
Rāvaṇa, unable to restrain himself, proceeds with renewed intent to see Sītā in Aśokavanikā.
The text foregrounds the absence of restraint (dama) in Rāvaṇa, thereby underscoring restraint as a central virtue.