Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 19

अष्टादशः सर्गः (Sarga 18): रावणस्य प्रमदावनप्रवेशः

Ravana’s entry into the women’s grove

Devanagari script

स च कामपराधीन: पतिस्तासां महाबलः।सीतासक्तमना मन्दो मन्दाञ्चितगतिर्बभौ।।5.18.19।।

Transliteration

sa ca kāma-parādhīnaḥ patis tāsāṁ mahābalaḥ |

sītā-sakta-manā mando mandāñcita-gatir babhau ||5.18.19||

Translation

而她们的夫君——虽具大力——却显得迟钝，为欲所缚；心系悉多，步履缓慢而有节。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (and)

• kāma-parādhīnaḥ: under the sway of passion
• kāma-parādhīnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + parādhīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: kāmasya parādhīnaḥ (dependent on desire/passion); विशेषणम् of patiḥ/saḥ

• patiḥ: husband / lord
• patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tāsām: of them
• tāsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen/6th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• mahābalaḥ: mighty
• mahābalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: 'mahān balaṃ yasya' = very powerful; विशेषणम् of saḥ/patiḥ

• sītā-sakta-manāḥ: with mind fixed on Sita
• sītā-sakta-manāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक) + sakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: 'sītāyām saktaṃ manaḥ yasya' = whose mind is attached to Sita; विशेषणम् of saḥ

• mandaḥ: slow / dull
• mandaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् of saḥ

• mandāñcita-gatiḥ: of slow, measured gait
• mandāñcita-gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक) + añcita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: 'mandā añcitā gatiḥ yasya' = whose gait is slow and measured; विशेषणम् of saḥ

• babhau: appeared / became
• babhau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Context

At dawn sounds of recitation of Vedas and the six auxillary sciences, (i.e .grammar, prosody, etymology, phonetics, astronomy and the science of rituals) by the brahmins among demons well-versed in performing exalted sacrificial ceremonies were heard.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

It teaches that power without self-mastery collapses into weakness; dharma requires control over desire, while obsession leads away from satya and right judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is portrayed in motion, yet psychologically impaired—preoccupied with Sītā and governed by passion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The highlighted (by contrast) virtue is self-control; the epic frames uncontrolled kāma as a cause of downfall.