--- title: "Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/sundara-kanda/sarga-18" lang: "en" --- # Sundara Kanda, Sarga 18 > तथा विप्रेक्षमाणस्य वनं पुष्पितपादपम्। > विचिन्वतश्च वैदेहीं किञ्चिच्छेषा निशाभवत्॥ १॥ While Hanumān was thus keenly observing the grove with its trees in blossom and looking for an opportunity to see more closely Sītā, a princess of the Videha territory, the night was well-nigh spent. (1) > षडंगवेदविदुषां क्रतुप्रवरयाजिनाम्। > शुश्राव ब्रह्मघोषान् स विरात्रे ब्रह्मरक्षसाम्॥ २॥ Towards the close of the night he heard the chanting of the Vedas in the dwellings of Brāhmaṇa-ogres well-versed in the Vedas, including the six auxiliary sciences, viz., grammar, prosody, etymology, phonetics, astronomy and the science of rituals and conducting big sacrifices. (2) > अथ मंगलवादित्रैः शब्दैः श्रोत्रमनोहरैः। > प्राबोध्यत महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवो महाबलः॥ ३॥ Presently the mighty-armed Rāvaṇa, the ten-headed monster, who was endowed with extraordinary strength, was awakened by means of musical instruments played upon on festive occasions as well as by means of praises ravishing the ears and mind. (3) > विबुध्य तु महाभागो राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्। > स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरो वैदेहीमन्वचिन्तयत्॥ ४॥ Waking up, the glorious Rāvaṇa, the ruler of ogres, for his part, who was highly blessed and whose garlands and raiment were in disarray, thought of Sītā, a princess of the Videha territory. (4) > भृशं नियुक्तस्तस्यां च मदनेन मदोत्कटः। > न तु तं राक्षसः कामं शशाकात्मनि गूहितुम्॥ ५॥ Nay, irresistibly drawn towards her by passion, the ogre, who was intoxicated with drink, could not, however, suppress that passion in his mind. (5) > स सर्वाभरणैर्युक्तो बिभ्रच्छ्रियमनुत्तमाम्। > तां नगैर्विविधैर्जुष्टां सर्वपुष्पफलोपगैः॥ ६॥ > वृतां पुष्करिणीभिश्च नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम्। > सदा मत्तैश्च विहगैर्विचित्रां परमाद्भुतैः॥ ७॥ > ईहामृगैश्च विविधैर्वृतां दृष्टिमनोहरैः। > वीथीः सम्प्रेक्षमाणश्च मणिकाञ्चनतोरणाम्॥ ८॥ > नानामृगगणाकीर्णां फलैः प्रपतितैर्वृताम्। > अशोकवनिकामेव प्राविशत् संततद्रुमाम्॥ ९॥ Adorned with every kind of ornament and bearing an unsurpassed splendour, nay, duly observing the avenues leading to the Aśoka grove, he deeply penetrated into the Aśoka grove itself, which was adorned with trees of all species, bearing all kinds of flowers and fruit and was surrounded by lotus-pools; nay, which was graced with various flowers and rendered picturesque by most wonderful birds ever in heat, which was crowded with artificial deer ravishing the eyes and mind; which was decorated with archways of gold and gems, was filled with herds of deer of every species and carpeted with the fruit fallen from above and was ever full of trees. (6—9) > अंगनाः शतमात्रं तु तं व्रजन्तमनुव्रजन्। > महेन्द्रमिव पौलस्त्यं देवगन्धर्वयोषितः॥ १०॥ Only a hundred belles for their part followed that grandson of Pulastya as he walked to the Aśoka grove, even as celestial and Gandharva women follow the mighty lndra wherever he goes. (10) > दीपिकाः काञ्चनीः काश्चिज्जगृहुस्तत्र योषितः। > वालव्यजनहस्ताश्च तालवृन्तानि चापराः॥ ११॥ Some women among them bore torches with gold handles, others carried chowries in their hands, while still others bore fans of palmyra leaves. (11) > काञ्चनैश्चैव भृंगारैर्जह्रुः सलिलमग्रतः। > मण्डलाग्रा बृसीश्चैव गृह्यान्याः पृष्ठतो ययुः॥ १२॥ Some carried water in golden ewers ahead, while others followed in the rear taking cushions with circular ends. (12) > काचिद् रत्नमयीं पात्रीं पूर्णां पानस्य भ्राजतीम्। > दक्षिणा दक्षिणेनैव तदा जग्राह पाणिना॥ १३॥ Some compliant woman held in her right hand alone on that occasion a shining pitcher made of jewels and filled with wine. (13) > राजहंसप्रतीकाशं छत्रं पूर्णशशिप्रभम्। > सौवर्णदण्डमपरा गृहीत्वा पृष्ठतो ययौ॥ १४॥ Yet another followed in the rear taking a canopy resembling a swan and shining brightly like the full moon, with a handle of gold. (14) > निद्रामदपरीताक्ष्यो रावणस्योत्तमस्त्रियः। > अनुजग्मुः पतिं वीरं घनं विद्युल्लता इव॥ १५॥ Their eyes overcome with sleep and intoxication, the excellent consort of Rāvaṇa followed their valiant lord as flashes of lightning following a cloud. (15) > व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः समामृदितवर्णकाः। > समागलितकेशान्ताः सस्वेदवदनास्तथा॥ १६॥ Their necklaces and armlets got slightly displaced, their coat of sandal-paste got effaced, their looks got dishevelled and their faces got moistened with sweat. (16) > घूर्णन्त्यो मदशेषेण निद्रया च शुभाननाः। > स्वेदक्लिष्टांगकुसुमाः समाल्याकुलमूर्धजाः॥ १७॥ Those women with lovely faces were staggering under the surviving traces of intoxication and sleep. The flowers on their person had got shrivelled by perspiration and their locks shook along with the wreaths that decorated them. (17) > प्रयान्तं नैर्ऋतपतिं नार्यो मदिरलोचनाः। > बहुमानाच्च कामाच्च प्रियभार्यास्तमन्वयुः॥ १८॥ Actuated by great regard for their husband as well as by longing to behold Sītā, the ladies, who were his beloved consorts, and who had intoxicating eyes, followed the aforesaid lord of ogres, who was going out to meet Sītā. (18) > स च कामपराधीनः पतिस्तासां महाबलः। > सीतासक्तमना मन्दो मन्दाञ्चितगतिर्बभौ॥ १९॥ And the evil-minded lord of theirs, who was the slave of his passion, though endowed with extraordinary might, and whose mind was attached to Sītā, looked charming as he proceeded in a slow-moving gait. (19) > ततः काञ्चीनिनादं च नूपुराणां च निःस्वनम्। > शुश्राव परमस्त्रीणां कपिर्मारुतनन्दनः॥ २०॥ At that time, Hanumān, the delight of the wind-god, heard the tinkling of the ornaments worn round the waist as well as of the anklets of those excellent women. (20) > तं चाप्रतिमकर्माणमचिन्त्यबलपौरुषम्। > द्वारदेशमनुप्राप्तं ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः॥ २१॥ > दीपिकाभिरनेकाभिः समन्तादवभासितम्। > गन्धतैलावसिक्ताभिर्ध्रियमाणाभिरग्रतः ॥ २२॥ > कामदर्पमदैर्युक्तं जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम्। > समक्षमिव कंदर्पमपविद्धशरासनम्॥ २३॥ > मथितामृतफेनाभमरजोवस्त्रमुत्तमम्। > सपुष्पमवकर्षन्तं विमुक्तं सक्तमंगदे॥ २४॥ Hanumān also found arrived near the gate of the Aśoka grove Rāvaṇa—who had accomplished unparalleled deeds and was endowed with inconceivable might and virility, who was illumined on all sides with numerous torches, fed with fragrant oil and being borne ahead, who was full of passion and vanity and intoxicated too, who had large, oblique and coppery eyes and looked like Love himself bereft of his bow and was disengaging and re-adjusting his excellent and stainless upper garment, which was white as the foam of churned milk, decorated with flowers and superior pearls, and had got entangled with his armlet. (21—24) > तं पत्रविटपे लीनः पत्रपुष्पशतावृतः। > समीपमुपसंक्रान्तं विज्ञातुमुपचक्रमे॥ २५॥ Remaining hidden behind a leafy bough, Hanumān, who was covered with hundreds of leaves and flowers, strove to discover the identity of Rāvaṇa, who had now drawn near. (25) > अवेक्षमाणस्तु तदा ददर्श कपिकुञ्जरः। > रूपयौवनसम्पन्ना रावणस्य वरस्त्रियः॥ २६॥ Looking round at that moment, Hanumān, an elephant among monkeys, also beheld the excellent consorts of Rāvaṇa, who were richly endowed with comeliness and youth. (26) > ताभिः परिवृतो राजा सुरूपाभिर्महायशाः। > तन्मृगद्विजसंघुष्टं प्रविष्टः प्रमदावनम्॥ २७॥ Surrounded by those women of a charming exterior, the highly illustrious king, Rāvaṇa, deeply penetrated into that pleasance for the use of ladies, rendered noisy by deer and birds. (27) > क्षीबो विचित्राभरणः शङ्कुकर्णो महाबलः। > तेन विश्रवसः पुत्रः स दृष्टो राक्षसाधिपः॥ २८॥ > वृतः परमनारीभिस्ताराभिरिव चन्द्रमाः। > तं ददर्श महातेजास्तेजोवन्तं महाकपिः॥ २९॥ > रावणोऽयं महाबाहुरिति संचिन्त्य वानरः। > सोऽयमेव पुरा शेते पुरमध्ये गृहोत्तमे। > अवप्लुतो महातेजा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः॥ ३०॥ That suzerain ruler of ogres, Rāvaṇa, son of Sage Visrava, who was endowed with extraordinary might, was seen by Hanumān adorned with lovely jewels, drunk, distinguished by pointed (dart-like) ears, and surrounded by excellent women as the moon is by stars. Hanumān, who was endowed with extraordinary energy, thus beheld the glorious Rāvaṇa. Distinctly recalling that it was he who was lying asleep the previous night in a sumptuous apartment in the heart of the city, and concluding that he was no other than the mighty-armed Rāvaṇa, Hanumān, sprung from the loins of the wind-god, got down from the bough on which he was perched. (28—30) > स तथाप्युग्रतेजाः स निर्धूतस्तस्य तेजसा। > पत्रे गुह्यान्तरे सक्तो मतिमान् संवृतोऽभवत्॥ ३१॥ Overshadowed by the brilliance of Rāvaṇa, though himself possessed of terrific energy, the sagacious Hanumān stood rooted and concealed behind a bough thick with leaves. (31) > स तामसितकेशान्तां सुश्रोणीं संहतस्तनीम्। > दिदृक्षुरसितापांगीमुपावर्तत रावणः॥ ३२॥ Keen to see Sītā of charming limbs and well-knit breasts, the ends of whose tresses were black and the corners of whose eyes were also dark, Rāvaṇa approached her. (32) Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana --- Source: Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions. Buy the book: https://gitapress.org/product/sri-ramcharitmanas-special-edition Ramayana.com, a free, ad-free project of Ved Vyas Foundation.