Shloka 5.18.4

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

sa sarvābharaṇair yukto bibhrac chriyam anuttamām |

tāṃ nagair bahubhir juṣṭāṃ sarvapuṣpaphalopagaiḥ ||5.18.6||

Translation

Adorned with every ornament and displaying unsurpassed splendour, he moved through that grove thick with many trees laden with all kinds of flowers and fruits.

Context

The chivalrous lord of demons woke up as usual.His raiment and garland were still in disarray and he thought of Vaidehi.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Aśokavanikā (implied garden setting)

FAQs

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

The verse suggests an ethical contrast: external splendour does not equal inner righteousness; dharma is measured by conduct, not ornamentation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa advances through the richly cultivated grove on his way to Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, the virtue is inner integrity—highlighted by its absence in a figure whose outer magnificence is emphasized.