Sundarakanda Sarga 18: The Arrival of Ravana (Full Text & Meaning)
Sundarakanda Sarga 18: The Arrival of Ravana (Full Text & Meaning)
Home > Sundarakanda > Sarga 18
Read Sundarakanda Sarga 18 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. In the final watches of the night, the Rākṣasa king Rāvaṇa wakes and proceeds to the Aśoka Vatika. Accompanied by his retinue of wives and attendants, he approaches Sītā with the intent of bending her to his will. Hanumān hides himself further within the branches, witnessing the approach of the enemy king. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 32 | Primary Character: Hanuman (Maruti) & Ravana | Key Events: Rāvaṇa-Prabōdhanam (Ravana Awakening), Aśōkavanikā-Pravēśam (Entering the Grove), Sītā-Abhigamanam (Approaching Sita) | Location: Ashoka Grove, Lanka |
athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe aṣṭādaśassargaḥ
Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramanaya - 18th Sarga
rāvaṇāgamanam
The Arrival of Ravana
tathā viprēkṣyamāṇasya vanaṅ puṣpitapādapam | vicinvataśca vaidēhīṅ kiṅcicchēṣā niśā.bhavat || 1
As Hanuman, gazed upon the forest, vibrant with blooming trees, and tirelessly sought out Vaidehi (Sita), the night had receded. (1)
ṣaḍaṅgavēdaviduṣāṅ kratupravarayājinām | śuśrāva brahmaghōṣāṅśca sa virātrē brahmarakṣasām || 2
The sound of Vedic hymns, recited by Brahma Rakshasis as they performed their yagnas with knowledge in vedas and vedangas, reached Hanuman in the quiet of the pre-dawn hours (2)
atha maṅgalavāditraśabdaiḥ śrutimanōharaiḥ | prābudhyata mahābāhurdaśagrīvō mahābalaḥ || 3
The powerful, mighty-armed, ten-headed Ravana was then awakened by the enchanting sounds of auspicious musical instruments. (3)
vibudhyatu yathākālaṅ rākṣasēndraḥ pratāpavān | srastamālyāmbaradharō vaidēhīmanvacintayat || 4
The valiant king of the Rakshasas, Ravana, woke up at the appropriate time. With his garlands and attire disarrayed, he began to think about Vaidehi (Sita). (4)
bhṛśaṅ niyuktastasyāṅ ca madanēna madōtkaṭaḥ | na sa taṅ rākṣasaḥ kāmaṅ śaśākātmani gūhitum || 5
Consumed by a fierce, arrogant passion (ignited by the God of Love, Madana), the Rakshasa (Ravana) found himself utterly unable to conceal his powerful desire. (5)
sa sarvābharaṇairyuktō bibhrat śriyamanuttamām | tāṅ nagairbahubhirjuṣṭāṅ sarvapuṣpaphalōpagaiḥ || 6
vṛtāṅ puṣkariṇībhiśca nānāpuṣpōpaśōbhitām | sadā madaiśca vihagairvicitrāṅ paramādbhutām || 7
īhāmṛgaiśca vividhairjuṣṭāṅ dṛṣṭimanōharaiḥ | vīdhīḥ saṅprēkṣamāṇaśca maṇikāñcanatōraṇāḥ || 8
nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇāṅ phalaiḥ prapatitairvṛtām | aśōkavanikāmēva prāviśatsaṅtatadrumām || 9
The Ashoka Vana was a captivating place, densely filled with trees. It was graced with numerous trees bearing all kinds of flowers and fruits, and was encircled by ponds embellished with diverse flowers. It was wonderfully picturesque, with various birds constantly intoxicated with joy, and was further crowded with diverse and captivating animals. Its paths and archways (tōraṇas) were made of gems and gold, and the ground was covered with fallen fruits and thronged with many herds of animals. Adorned with all his ornaments and radiating an unparalleled splendor, the Rakshasa (Ravana) entered (6 - 9)
aṅganāśatamātraṅ tu taṅ vrajantamanuvrajat | mahēndramiva paulastyaṅ dēvagandharvayōṣitaḥ || 10 dīpikāḥ kāñcanīḥ kāścijjagṛhustatra yōṣitaḥ | vālavyajanahastāśca tālavṛntāni cāparāḥ || 11 kāñcanairapi bhṛṅgārairjahruḥ salilamagrataḥ | maṇḍalāgrān bṛsīścāpi gṛhyānyāḥ pṛṣṭhatō yayuḥ || 12
A retinue of a hundred maidens, akin to the celestial attendants of the Devas and Gandharvas following Indra, followed Ravana. Some served him by carrying golden lamps, hand fans, and fly-whisks (vījāmaras). Others carried filled golden pitchers in front of him, while some walked behind him with sharp swords and cushions (10 -12)
kācidratnamayīṅ sthālīṅ pūrṇāṅ pānasya bhāminī | dakṣiṇā dakṣiṇēnaiva tadā jagrāha pāṇinā || 13
Walking skillfully beside him, a beautiful maiden held a gem-studded platter overflowing with wine in her right hand. (13)
rājahaṅsapratīkāśaṅ chatraṅ pūrṇaśaśiprabham | sauvarṇadaṇḍamaparā gṛhītvā pṛṣṭhatō yayau || 14
Another maiden followed behind, carrying a royal umbrella with a golden staff, which resembled a magnificent swan and shone brilliantly like the full moon. (14)
nidrāmadaparītākṣyō rāvaṇasyōttāmaḥ striyaḥ | anujagmuḥ patiṅ vīraṅ ghanaṅ vidyullatā iva || 15
Ravana's chief women, their eyes heavy with drowsiness, followed their brave lord like flashes of lightning trailing a cloud. (15)
vyāviddhahārakēyūrāḥ samāmṛditavarṇakāḥ | samāgaḷitakēśāntāḥ sasvēdavadanāstathā || 16 ghūrṇantyō madaśēṣēṇa nidrayā ca śubhānanāḥ | svēdakliṣṭāṅgakusumāḥ sumālyākulamūrdhajāḥ || 17 prayāntaṅ naiṛtapatiṅ nāryō madiralōcanāḥ | bahumānācca kāmācca priyā bhāryāstamanvayuḥ || 18
Ravana’s dear wives, with their intoxicating eyes, were in complete disarray: their pearl necklaces and armlets were askew, their body cosmetics smeared, and their hair entirely loose, while sweat dampened their faces. Their lovely features swayed from the lingering effects of wine and sleep, with the flowers adorning their bodies wilted from the heat and the garlands in their hair tangled and disordered, yet they followed him with profound respect and passion for him. (16 -18)
sa ca kāmaparādhīna: patistāsāṅ mahābalaḥ | sītāsaktamanā mandō mandāñcitagatirbabhau || 19
Utterly consumed by desire for her, the greatly powerful Ravana had his mind fixed only on Sita. Because of this obsession, he appeared listless and moved with a slow and gentle gait. (19)
tataḥ kāñcīninādaṅ ca nūpurāṇāṅ ca nisvanam | śuśrāva paramastrīṇāṅ sa kapirmārutātmajaḥ || 20
Then, the son of the wind, Hanuman, heard the musical sound of the waist-bells (kāñcī) and the jingling of the anklets (nūpura) worn by those excellent women (20)
taṅ cāpratimakarmāṇamacintyabalapauruṣam | dvāradēśamanuprāptaṅ dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ || 21
Hanuman saw Ravana—whose strength and valor were inconceivable and whose deeds were unparalleled—as he arrived at the entrance. (21)
dīpikābhiranēkābhiḥ samantādavabhāsitam | gandhatailāvasiktābhiḥ dhriyamāṇābhiragrataḥ || 22
kāmadarpamadairyuktaṅ jihmatāmrāyatēkṣaṇam | samakṣamiva kandarpam apaviddhaśarāsanam || 23
mathitāmṛtaphēnābhamarajōvastramuttamam | salīlamanukarṣantaṅ vimuktaṅ saktamaṅgadē || 24 taṅ
patraviṭapē līnaḥ patrapuṣpaghanāvṛtaḥ | samīpamiva saṅkrāntaṅ nidhyātumupacakramē || 25
Hanuman, concealed within a dense curtain of leaves and blossoms on a tree branch, began his careful observation of Ravana as the demon-king approached. Ravana was bathed in light from numerous golden lamps, fuelled by fragrant oil and carried by attendants before him. His demeanor was a blend of lust, pride, and intoxication, his long, reddish eyes were cunning. He wore a superb, immaculate garment, white as the foam of churned nectar, which trailed gracefully and was loosely caught on his armlet. In his magnificent form, he seemed to have conquered the Manmatha, standing as an incomparable vision of power and desire (22 - 25)
avēkṣamāṇastu tatō dadarśa kapikuñjaraḥ | rūpayauvanasampannā rāvaṇasya varastriyaḥ || 26
Then, while observing (the surroundings), Kapikunjara saw Ravana's elegant wives, all of them endowed with great beauty and youth. (26)
tābhiḥ parivṛtō rājā surūpābhirmahāyaśāḥ | tanmṛgadvijasaṅghuṣṭāṅ praviṣṭaḥ pramadāvanam || 27
Surrounded by his beautiful women, the glorious king, Ravana proceeded to enter the pleasure-garden (pramadāvanam), a vibrant place filled with the sounds of animals and birds. (27)
kṣībō vicitrābharaṇaḥ śaṅkukarṇō mahābalaḥ | tēna viśravasaḥ putraḥ sa dṛṣṭō rākṣasādhipaḥ || 28
Hanuman's gaze fell upon the Lord of the Rakshasas, Ravana (the son of Viśravasa), who was intoxicated, magnificent in his elaborate ornaments, and supremely powerful. (28)
vṛtaḥ paramanārībhistārābhiriva candramāḥ | taṅ dadarśa mahātējāstējōvantaṅ mahākapiḥ || 29
Hanuman saw that glorious one (Ravana), who was surrounded by supreme women just as the moon is surrounded by stars. (29)
rāvaṇō.yaṅ mahābāhuriti sañcintya vānaraḥ | avaplutō mahātējā hanumān mārutātmajaḥ || 30
“This is the mighty-armed Ravana, whom I saw earlier in the main chamber while he was sleeping earlier" following this realization, the greatly energetic mahateja Hanuman, immediately leaped down a bit. (30)
sa tathāpyugratējāḥ sannirdhūtastasya tējasā | patraguhyāntere saktō hanumān saṅvṛtō.bhavat || 31
Upon the realization, "This is the mighty-armed Ravana, whom I had previously observed sleeping in the main chamber," the greatly energetic and exceedingly powerful mahateja Hanuman descended slightly. (31)
sa tāmasitakēśāntāṅ suśrōṇīṅ saṅhatastnīm | didṛkṣurasitāpāṅgāmupāvartata rāvaṇaḥ || 32
Desiring to see Sita—the one with long, black hair, beautiful hips, firm breasts, and dark, captivating eyes—Ravana approached her. (32)
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde aṣṭādaśassargaḥ
↑ Back to Top