Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 7

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

वृतां पुष्करिणीभिश्च नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम्।सदा मदैश्च विहगैर्विचित्रां परमाद्भुताम्।।5.18.7।।

Transliteration

vṛtāṃ puṣkariṇībhiś ca nānāpuṣpopaśobhitām |

sadā madaiś ca vihagair vicitrāṃ paramādbhutām ||5.18.7||

Translation

Il était ceint d’étangs de lotus, ornés de fleurs de mille espèces ; et des oiseaux, toujours ivres de joie dans leurs chants, le rendaient merveilleusement chatoyant.

Word by Word

• वृताम्: covered/surrounded
• वृताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛ (धातु) → vṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ताम् (वनिकाम्) इति विशेषणम्

• पुष्करिणीभिः: with ponds
• पुष्करिणीभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣkariṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम्: adorned with many kinds of flowers
• नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + upaśobhita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘beautified by various flowers’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ताम् इति विशेषणम्

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘always’)

• मदैः: with intoxication/rapture
• मदैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• विहगैः: with birds
• विहगैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vihaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• विचित्राम्: variegated, colourful
• विचित्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ताम् इति विशेषणम्

• परमाद्भुताम्: most marvellous
• परमाद्भुताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘supremely wonderful’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ताम् इति विशेषणम्

Context

The demon king who was unable to hide his great passion and control his senses was drawn towards Sita, in his state of intoxication.

Characters & Entities

• Aśokavanikā (garden)

FAQs

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

A moral contrast is set: a beautiful, harmonious environment can still be the stage for adharma; dharma depends on actions, not surroundings.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration describes the enchanting features of the grove through which Rāvaṇa is moving.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a direct virtue of a character; rather, the text emphasizes discernment—seeing beyond beauty to the ethical reality of what is occurring there.