Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 11

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

दीपिकाः काञ्चनीः काश्चिज्जगृहुस्तत्र योषितः।वालव्यजनहस्ताश्च तालवृन्तानि चापराः।।5.18.11।।

Transliteration

dīpikāḥ kāñcanīḥ kāścij jagṛhus tatra yoṣitaḥ |

vālavyajanahastāś ca tālavṛntāni cāparāḥ ||

Translation

Là, certaines femmes tenaient des lampes d’or ; d’autres, de leurs mains, agitaient des éventails en queue de yak ; d’autres encore portaient des éventails de feuilles de palmier.

Word by Word

• dīpikāḥ: lamps
• dīpikāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• kāñcanīḥ: golden
• kāñcanīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (qualifier) of dīpikāḥ (intended object)

• kāścit: some (a few)
• kāścit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• jagṛhuḥ: held / took up
• jagṛhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• yoṣitaḥ: women
• yoṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vālavyajana-hastāḥ: having yak-tail fans in hand
• vālavyajana-hastāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāla (प्रातिपदिक) + vyajana (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): 'vāla-vyajana' (yak-tail fan) + 'hasta' (hand) = 'having (such) in hand' used adjectivally for yoṣitaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• tālavṛntāni: palm-leaf fans
• tālavṛntāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tālavṛnta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• aparāḥ: others
• aparāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (pronominal adjective used substantively)

Context

Some women carried golden lamps, some held yalk tail fans in their hands while others bore palm-leaf fans.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (implied by context)
• Women attendants

FAQs

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

Ethically, it underscores a Ramayana motif: external luxury is morally neutral; Dharma depends on truthful, restrained action rather than ornamented surroundings.

What is the narrative situation?

The attendants around Rāvaṇa are described as they carry lamps and fans while moving with him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

No direct virtue is taught; the focus is descriptive, setting a scene that later contrasts with Sītā’s austerity and steadfast Satya.