Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 1

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

तथा विप्रेक्ष्यमाणस्य वनं पुष्पितपादपम्।विचिन्वतश्च वैदेहीं किंचिच्छेषा निशाऽभवत्।।5.18.1।।

Transliteration

tathā viprekṣyamāṇasya vanaṃ puṣpitapādapam |

vicinvataś ca vaidehīṃ kiṃciccheṣā niśā ’bhavat ||

Translation

Habang patuloy niyang sinusuri ang kakahuyan na may mga namumulaklak na puno, at patuloy na hinahanap si Vaidehī, maliit na bahagi na lamang ng gabi ang natitira.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• विप्रेक्ष्यमाणस्य: of (him) who was observing
• विप्रेक्ष्यमाणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + prekṣ (धातु) → viprekṣyamāṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/कर्तरि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव; here genitive singular qualifying the agent (Hanuman)

• वनम्: the grove/forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• पुष्पितपादपम्: having flowering trees
• पुष्पितपादपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + pādapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive: 'flowering trees'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वनम् इति विशेषणम्

• विचिन्वतः: of (him) searching
• विचिन्वतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + ci (धातु) → vicinvant (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (singular), पुंलिङ्ग; ‘of (him) searching’

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

• वैदेहीम्: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• वैदेहीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• किञ्चित्: a little
• किञ्चित्: Visheshaṇa (विशेषण/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiṃcit (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय (quantifier/adverbial: ‘a little’)

• शेषा: remaining
• शेषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; ‘remaining’ qualifying niśā

• निशा: night
• निशा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभवत्: was/occurred (was left)
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

Context

The night came to a close while Hanuman went searching and looking for Sita at Ashoka grove full of flowering trees.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• Aśokavanikā (flowering grove)

FAQs

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

Dharma is diligent effort: Hanumān uses limited time responsibly, persisting in a righteous search rather than yielding to fatigue.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān continues his careful search in the flowering grove; the night is nearly over, increasing urgency.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance—steady work under time pressure, guided by duty to Rāma and compassion for Sītā.