Valmiki Ramayana 5.18.24 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 24

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

मथितामृतफेनाभमरजोवस्त्रमुत्तमम्।सलीलमनुकर्षन्तं विमुक्तं सक्तमङ्गदे।।5.18.24।।

Transliteration

mathitāmṛtaphenābham arajovastram uttamam |

salīlam anukarṣantaṃ vimuktaṃ saktamaṅgade || 5.18.24 ||

Translation

ମଥିତ ଅମୃତର ଫେନ ପରି ଶ୍ୱେତ ଓ ନିର୍ମଳ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବସ୍ତ୍ରଟି ସରି ଅଙ୍ଗଦରେ ଅଟକିଥିଲା; ସେ ତାହାକୁ କ୍ରୀଡାଭାବେ ଟାଣି ନେଲା।

Word by Word

• मथितामृतफेनाभम्: like the foam of churned nectar
• मथितामृतफेनाभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mathita-amṛta-phena-ābha (प्रातिपदिक; मथित + अमृत + फेन + आभ)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष)

• अरजः: dustless, spotless
• अरजः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rajas (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + रजस्)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); indeclinable-stem adjective in -as behaving as subanta here

• वस्त्रम्: garment
• वस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with वस्त्रम्

• सलीलम्: sportively
• सलीलम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa-līla (अव्ययभाव/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative used as avyaya (क्रियाविशेषण), meaning 'sportively/with playfulness'

• अनुकर्षन्तम्: dragging along
• अनुकर्षन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√kṛṣ (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (कर्तरि वर्तमान कृदन्त; शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with implied person (tam)

• विमुक्तम्: slipped off, loosened
• विमुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√muc (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with वस्त्रम्

• सक्तम्: stuck
• सक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sañj (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with वस्त्रम्

• अङ्गदे: on the armlet
• अङ्गदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Hanuman seated on a leafy branch (of the simsupa tree) thickly covered with leaves and flowers started scanning the identity of Ravana who was drawing nearer.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the theme that refinement and luxury can coexist with unrighteousness; Dharma is measured by restraint and justice, not elegance.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān observes Rāvaṇa’s attire and gestures as he moves among attendants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s focus and self-control: even amid sensual splendor, he remains mission-oriented.