Shloka 30

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

रावणोऽयं महाबाहुरिति सञ्चिन्त्य वानरः।अवप्लुतो महातेजा हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः।।5.18.30।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇo 'yaṃ mahābāhur iti sañcintya vānaraḥ |

avapluto mahātejā hanumān mārutātmajaḥ || 5.18.30 ||

Translation

“ഇവൻ മഹാബാഹുവായ രാവണൻ തന്നേ” എന്നു ചിന്തിച്ച്, മഹാതേജസ്സുള്ള വാനരനായ ഹനുമാൻ—മാരുതാത്മജൻ—തന്റെ ഇരിപ്പിടത്തിൽ നിന്ന് അല്പം താഴേക്ക് ചാടിയിറങ്ങി.

Word by Word

• अङ्गनाशतमात्रम्: only a hundred maidens
• अङ्गनाशतमात्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गना + शत + मात्र (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः: शतमात्राः अङ्गनाः (only a hundred women)

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

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• व्रजन्तम्: going
• व्रजन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमानकृदन्त), पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘going/walking’ — तम् इति विशेषणम्

• अनुव्रजत्: followed
• अनुव्रजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; collective subject devagandharvayoṣitaḥ

• महेन्द्रम्: Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्रम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; upamāna

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• पौलस्त्यम्: Paulastya (Ravana)
• पौलस्त्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौलस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; रावणस्य नाम (descendant of Pulastya)

• देवगन्धर्वयोषितः: women of gods and gandharvas
• देवगन्धर्वयोषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + गन्धर्व + योषित् (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः: देवानां गन्धर्वाणां च योषितः (women of gods and gandharvas)

Context

By that time the strong-armed, powerful, ten-necked Ravana was awakened by the delightful sounds of auspicious musical instruments.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa
• Māruta (Wind-god)

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) and precision in action: Hanumān confirms identity before acting, showing Dharmic responsibility rather than impulsiveness.

What is the narrative situation?

After observing, Hanumān recognizes Rāvaṇa with certainty and adjusts his position to continue the mission safely.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment and strategic restraint—he acts only after verification.