Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 10
अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः
Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove
अङ्गनाशतमात्रं तु तं व्रजन्तमनुव्रजत्।महेन्द्रमिव पौलस्त्यं देवगन्धर्वयोषितः।।5.18.10।।
aṅganāśatamātraṃ tu taṃ vrajantam anuvrajat |
mahendram iva paulastyaṃ devagandharvayoṣitaḥ ||
នៅពេលប៉ូលាស្ត្យ (រាវណ) ដើរទៅ មានស្ត្រីតែរយនាក់ប៉ុណ្ណោះដើរតាម—ដូចមហេន្ទ្រ (ឥន្ទ្រ) ដែលមានស្ត្រីនៃទេវតា និងគន្ធర్వព័ទ្ធជុំវិញ។
Ravana, son of sage Paulasti, was followed by a hundred women, just as Indra is trailed by the females of gods and gandharvas.
FAQs
The verse invites ethical contrast: royal splendor and entourage do not equal Dharma; righteousness is measured by conduct, not display.
Rāvaṇa approaches with an entourage of women, described in a simile comparing him to Indra’s retinue.
Primarily a cautionary theme rather than a virtue: worldly grandeur can mask unrighteous intent.