Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 26

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

अवेक्षमाणस्तु ततो ददर्श कपिकुञ्जरः।रूपयौवनसम्पन्ना रावणस्य वरस्त्रियः।।5.18.26।।

Transliteration

avekṣamāṇas tu tato dadarśa kapikuñjaraḥ |

rūpayauvanasampannā rāvaṇasya varastriyaḥ || 5.18.26 ||

Translation

Tandis qu’il continuait à regarder alentour, le puissant singe aperçut les épouses principales de Rāvaṇa, femmes comblées de beauté et de jeunesse.

Word by Word

• अवेक्षमाणः: while observing
• अवेक्षमाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-√īkṣ (धातु) + śāna (शानच्)
• Form: Present active participle (कर्तरि वर्तमान कृदन्त; शानच्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• ततः: then
• ततः: Desha/Kala (देश/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/अव्यय (temporal/ablatival: 'then/from there')

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• कपिकुञ्जरः: the foremost monkey
• कपिकुञ्जरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi-kuñjara (प्रातिपदिक; कपि + कुञ्जर)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Samāsa: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) 'elephant among monkeys'

• रूपयौवनसम्पन्नाः: endowed with beauty and youth
• रूपयौवनसम्पन्नाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rūpa-yauvana-sampanna (प्रातिपदिक; रूप + यौवन + सम्पन्न)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष)

• रावणस्य: of Ravana
• रावणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• वरस्त्रियः: chief women/wives
• वरस्त्रियः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara-strī (प्रातिपदिक; वर + स्त्री)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); Samāsa: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय)

Context

Surrounded by beauties, the glorious king entered the grove meant for women, reverberating with the sounds of beasts and birds.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse supports the Dharmic idea of careful witnessing: one must see reality as it is, without prejudice, to act truthfully and effectively.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān surveys the inner palace-grove and notices the principal women around Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and observational discipline—Hanumān does not lose focus amid distraction.