Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 3

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

अथ मङ्गलवादित्रशब्दैः श्रुतिमनोहरैः।प्राबुध्यत महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवो महाबलः।।5.18.3।।

Transliteration

atha maṅgalavāditraśabdaiḥ śrutimanoharaiḥ |

prābudhyata mahābāhur daśagrīvo mahābalaḥ || 5.18.3 ||

Translation

تب شُبھ وادِتر کے دلکش نغموں—جو کان اور من کو بھاتے تھے—سے مہاباہو، مہابلی دَشگریو راون بیدار ہوا۔

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal particle)

• मङ्गलवादित्रशब्दैः: by auspicious instrumental sounds
• मङ्गलवादित्रशब्दैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक) + vāditra (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘sounds of auspicious instruments’), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• श्रुतिमनोहरैः: delighting the ear
• श्रुतिमनोहरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक) + manohara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘ear-delighting’), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; शब्दैः इति विशेषणम्

• प्राबुध्यत: awoke/was awakened
• प्राबुध्यत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + budh (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed one
• महाबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘one whose arms are great’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दशग्रीवः: Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)
• दशग्रीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘ten-necked’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाबलः: the very powerful one
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘of great strength’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Hanuman saw him in the glow of lamps wet with fragrant oil carried by many she-demons all over.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)

FAQs

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

The verse indirectly contrasts outer auspiciousness (maṅgala music) with inner character: Dharma is not established by ceremonial grandeur, but by righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is roused from sleep by auspicious instrumental music, setting the scene for Hanumān’s covert observation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue of Rāvaṇa, but the narrative setup highlights attentiveness and timing—conditions that allow Hanumān’s disciplined mission to proceed.