Shloka 5.18.16
अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः — Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove
व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः समामृदितवर्णकाः।समागळितकेशान्तास्सस्वेदवदनास्तथा।।5.18.16।।घूर्णन्त्यो मदशेषेण निद्रया च शुभाननाः।स्वेदक्लिष्टाङ्गकुसुमास्सुमाल्याकुलमूर्धजाः।।5.18.17।।प्रयान्तं नैऋतपतिं नार्यो मदिरलोचनाः।बहुमानाच्च कामाच्च प्रिया भार्यास्तमन्वयुः।।5.18.18।।
nidrā-mada-parītākṣyo rāvaṇasyottamāḥ striyaḥ |
anujagmuḥ patiṁ vīraṁ ghanaṁ vidyul-latā iva ||5.18.15||
Rāvaṇa’s foremost women, their eyes heavy with sleep and intoxication, followed their heroic husband—like lightning streaks following a dark cloud.
The necklaces and armlets (of the wives) disarrayed, the sandal paste and other unguents on the body smudged, hair hanging down their faces, the sweating damsels followed Ravana. They were dizzy with left-over intoxication and sleep and were swaying from side to side. Their dishevelled hair was loose and faces filled with sweat, their flower garlands on the body had wilted due to sweat on their limbs. The drunken wives of Ravana, actuated by their high regard and passion for him followed as he advanced with drunken eyes.
The imagery warns how intoxication and attachment can sweep people into following harmful leadership; dharma requires wakeful discernment rather than dazzled compliance.
As Rāvaṇa advances, his principal wives accompany him, still affected by sleep and drink.
The contrasted virtue is vigilance (apramāda): the epic often upholds steady awareness as necessary for truthful, dharmic action.