Shloka 9

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

ईहामृगैश्च विविधैर्जुष्टां दृष्टिमनोहरैः।वीधीः संप्रेक्षमाणश्च मणिकाञ्चनतोरणाः।।5.18.8।।नानामृगगणाकीर्णां फलैः प्रपतितैर्वृताम्।अशोकवनिकामेव प्राविशत्संततद्रुमाम्।।5.18.9।।

Transliteration

īhāmṛgaiś ca vividhair juṣṭāṃ dṛṣṭimanoharaiḥ |

vīthīḥ saṃprekṣamāṇaś ca maṇikāñcanatoraṇāḥ ||5.18.8||

nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇāṃ phalaiḥ prapatitair vṛtām |

aśokavanikām eva prāviśat santatadrumām ||5.18.9||

Translation

Während er die anmutigen Wege und die Torbögen betrachtete, mit Edelsteinen und Gold geschmückt, betrat er den Aśoka-Hain — dicht und zusammenhängend von Bäumen, erfüllt von vielen Herden verschiedener Tiere und bedeckt von Früchten, die von den Zweigen gefallen waren.

Word by Word

• अङ्गनाशतमात्रम्: only a hundred maidens
• अङ्गनाशतमात्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅganā (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘only a hundred women’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (योषितः) इति परिमाणवाचक-विशेषणभाव

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (contrastive particle)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• व्रजन्तम्: going, walking
• व्रजन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vraj (धातु) → vrajant (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम् इति विशेषणम्

• अनुव्रजत्: followed
• अनुव्रजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + vraj (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• महेन्द्रम्: Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्रम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (proper name), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान (object of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (simile particle)

• पौलस्त्यम्: Poulastya (Rāvaṇa)
• पौलस्त्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paulastya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम् इति समानाधिकरणम् (Rāvaṇa, descendant of Pulastya)

• देवगन्धर्वयोषितः: women of the gods and gandharvas
• देवगन्धर्वयोषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘women of gods and gandharvas’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

Adorned with all ornaments and glowing with excellent splendour he went through thepath filled with trees flourishing with all kinds of flowers and fruits.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Aśokavanikā

FAQs

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

The verse frames the approach to a dharma-violating act within a splendid setting, reminding that ethical judgment concerns intention and action, not grandeur.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa proceeds along ornate pathways and enters the Aśoka grove where Sītā is held.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indirectly, vigilance and discernment—since the scene prepares for Sītā’s steadfast dharma amid threatening circumstances.