Shloka 5.18.18
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।।
ghūrṇantyo mada-śeṣeṇa nidrayā ca śubhānanāḥ |
sveda-kliṣṭāṅga-kusumāḥ su-mālyākula-mūrdhajāḥ ||5.18.17||
Beautiful-faced, they swayed from side to side from the remnants of intoxication and from sleep; the flowers on their limbs had wilted with sweat, and their hair was tangled with fine garlands.
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 leftover 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.
It underscores impermanence and the loss of dignity that follows heedlessness; dharma calls for steadiness and truth-aligned awareness rather than stupefaction.
The attendants/wives accompanying Rāvaṇa are described as reeling from intoxication and sleep, their adornments wilting and disordered.
The contrasted virtue is sobriety and mindfulness—qualities that support satya (clear seeing) and dharma (right conduct).