Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 25

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

तं पत्रविटपे लीनः पत्रपुष्पघनावृतः।समीपमिव संक्रान्तं निध्यातुमुपचक्रमे।।5.18.25।।

Transliteration

taṃ patraviṭape līnaḥ patrapuṣpaghanāvṛtaḥ |

samīpam iva saṅkrāntaṃ nidhyātum upacakrame || 5.18.25 ||

Translation

ਪੱਤਿਆਂ ਵਾਲੀ ਟਾਹਣੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੁਕ ਕੇ, ਪੱਤਿਆਂ ਤੇ ਫੁੱਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਘਣੀ ਓਟ ਨਾਲ ਢੱਕਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ, ਜੋ ਬਹੁਤ ਨੇੜੇ ਆ ਗਿਆ ਜਾਪਦਾ ਸੀ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਤੱਕਣ-ਪਰਖਣ ਲੱਗ ਪਿਆ।

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanama, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• पत्रविटपे: on a leafy branch
• पत्रविटपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra-viṭapa (प्रातिपदिक; पत्र + विटप)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष)

• लीनः: hidden, concealed
• लीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √lī (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); describing Hanuman

• पत्रपुष्पघनावृतः: covered thickly with leaves and flowers
• पत्रपुष्पघनावृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patra-puṣpa-ghana-āvṛta (प्रातिपदिक; पत्र + पुष्प + घन + आवृत)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष)

• समीपम्: nearby
• समीपम्: Desha/Adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial accusative of place

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparison particle/उपमा-बोधक अव्यय

• संक्रान्तम्: having approached, drawn near
• संक्रान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√kram (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with तम्

• निध्यातुम्: to observe/identify
• निध्यातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√dhyai (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुनन्त), purpose sense (प्रयोजन)

• उपचक्रमे: began
• उपचक्रमे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√kram (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

The leader of the monkeys started gazing at the chief wives of Ravana endowed with youth and beauty৷৷

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma in action here is disciplined vigilance: righteous aims require careful assessment and non-reckless conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān remains concealed and closely examines the approaching figure to confirm identity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (viveka) and stealth guided by purpose—Hanumān’s strategic restraint.