Summary
In this chapter Hanuma sees Ravana entering Ashoka garden with a retinue (a group of) of his wives following him.
Chapter [Sarga] 18 in Detail
tathaa viprekshamaanasya vanam puspitapaadapam |
vichinvatashcha vaidehiim kimchicchesaa nishaabhavat || 5-18-1
A little of the night was left while Hanuma was searching like that for Seetha in the garden with flowers in blossom.
sadangavedavidusaam kratupravarayaajinaam |
shushraava brahmaghosaan sa viraatre brahmarakshasaam || 5-18-2
That Hanuma heard Vedic sounds early in the morning of Brahma Rakshasas well versed in six parts of Vedas and those who performed excellent sacrifices.
atha mangalavaaditrashabdaih shrutimanoharaih |
prabudhyata mahaabaahurdashagriivo mahaabalah || 5-18-3
Thereafter Ravana with great arms and great prowess was woken by the sounds of various auspicious musical instruments pleasing to the ear.
vibudhya tu yathaakaalam raakshasendrah prataapavaan |
srastamaalyaambaradharo vaidehiimanvacintayaat || 5-18-4
The king of rakshasas with great might woke up at the appropriate hour wearing slippery flower garlands remembered about Seetha.
bhrisham niyuktastasyaam ca madanena madotkatah |
na sa tam raakshasah kaamam shashaakaatmani guuhitum || 5-18-5
In that Seetha's matter, directed a lot by the god of love and excited by passion, that Rakshasa was not capable to suppress in self that desire.
sa sarvaabharanairyukto bibhacchhriyamanuttamaam |
taam nagairbahubhirjustaam sarvapuspaphalopagaih || 5-18-6
Together with all ornaments wearing great glory that Ravana entered that Ashoka garden having a lot of trees with all fruits and flowers.
vritaam puskariniibhishca naanaapuspopashobhitaam |
sadaamadaishcha vihagairvichitraam paramaadbhutaam || 5-18-7
Ravana entered that great wonderful Ashoka garden together with lakes, shone by various flowers, brilliant with birds always in rut.
iihaamrigaishcha vividhairjustaam dristimanoharaih |
viithiih samprekshamaanashcha manikaajncanatoranaah || 5-18-8
naanaamrigaganaakiirnaam phalaih prapatitairvritaam |
ashokavanakaameva praavishatsamtatadrumaam || 5-18-9
Ravana entered Ashoka garden seeing archways of gold and gems crowded by artificial deer of various kinds ravishing eyes and mind, filled with animals of various kinds, together with fallen fruits and full of trees.
anganaashatamaatram tu tam vrajantamanuvrajat |
mahendramiva paulastyamm devagandharvayositah || 5-18-10
While He was going only a hundred of women followed that Ravana like Deva and Gandharva women following Indra.
diipikaah kaajncaniih kaashchijjagrihustatra yositah |
vaalavyajanahastaashcha taalavrintaani chaaparaah || 5-18-11
There some women bore lamps of gold; some others carried chowries; some others had fans of Palmyra leaves in their hands.
kaajnchanairapi bhringaarairjahruh salilamagratah |
mandalaagaan brusiimshchaapi grihyaanyaah pristhato yayuh || 5-18-12
Some women carried water in small vessels of gold; some others followed in the back taking pillows with circular ends.
kaachidratnamayiim sthaaliim puurnaam paanasya braajatam |
dakshinaa dakshinenaiva tadaa jagraaha paaninaa || 5-18-13
One woman to the right of Ravana held with her right hand a vessel with gem stones filled with liquor.
raajahamsapratiikaasham chatram puurnashashiprabham |
sauvarnadandamaparaa grihiitvaa pristhato yayau || 5-18-14
Another woman went at back taking an umbrella equalling a royal swan with the radiance of full moon with a golden handle.
nidraamadapariitaaksyo raavanasyottamaah striyah |
anujagmuh patim viiram ghanam vidyullataa iva || 5-18-15
With sleepy eyes best women of Ravana followed mighty husband like lightning following a cloud.
vyaaviddhahaarakeyuuraah samaamriditavarnakaah |
samaagalitakeshaantaah sasvedavadanaastathaa || 5-18-16
ghornantyo madashesena nidrayaa ca shubhaananaah |
svedaklistaangakusumaah sumaalyaakulamuurdhajaah || 5-18-17
prayaantam nairritapatim naaryo madiralochanaah |
bahumaanaaccha kaamaacca priyaa bhaaryaastamanvayuh || 5-18-18
With displaced necklaces and armlets, with effaced cover of sandal-paste, with disheveled (marked by disorder or disarray) hair, and also with sweaty faces, staggering due to surviving trace of liquor and due to sleepiness, with shrivelled flowers on perspiring bodies, with disheveled hair along with good garlands, with intoxicating eyes, women who were dear wives followed that king of Rakshasas who was going due to respect and due to love.
sa ca kaamaparaadhiinah patistaasaam mahaabalah |
siitaasaktamanaa mando mandaajncitagatirbabhau || 5-18-19
Husband of those women, of great might, who was surrendered to lust, that Ravana also who was dull witted, with his mind interested in Seetha shone with a slow and beautiful gait.
tatah kaajnciininaadam ca nuupuraanaam ca nisvanam |
shushraava paramastriinaam sa kapirmaarutaatmajah || 5-18-20
Thereafter that Hanuma, the son of wind-god heard the sound of waist-bands and the sound of anklets of those excellent women.
tam caapratimakarmaanamacintyabalapaurusam |
dvaaradeshamanupraaptam dadarsha hanumaan kapih || 5-18-21
Hanuma the monkey saw that Ravana also, performer of deeds without an equal, with unfathomable might and virility, reaching the entrance region.
diipikaabhiranekaabhih samantaadavabhaasitam |
gandhatailaavasiktaabhirdriyamaanaabhiragratah || 5-18-22
Wet by fragrant oil, being carried in front of Ravana, Hanuma saw Ravana being shone in all directions by many lamps.
kaamadarpamadairyuktam jihmataamraayatekshanam |
samakshamiva kandarpamapaviddhasharaasanam || 5-18-23
Hanuma saw Ravana together with lust, vanity and intoxication, with wide red eyes which were slanted, like the god of love in person with bow kept at a distance.
mathitaamritaphenaabhamarajovastramuttamam |
saliilamanukarsantam vimuktam saktamangade || 5-18-24
Hanuma saw Ravana playfully readjusting his excellent upper garment with the luster of churned nectar froth, without stain, slipping being entangled in armlet.
tam patravitape liinah atrapuspaghanaavritah |
samiipamiva samkraantam nidhyaatumupachakrame || 5-18-25
Hanuma blended in a branch full of leaves covered by groups of leaves and flowers started to see that Ravana as though coming near Him.
avekshamaanastu tato dadarsha kapikujnjarah |
ruupayauvanasampannaa raavanasya varastiyah || 5-18-26
Thereafter Hanuma, the best among Vanaras looking in all directions saw best women of Ravana full of beauty and youth.
taabhih parivrito raajaa suruupaabhirmahaayashaah |
tasmrigadvijasamghastam pravistah pramadaavanam || 5-18-27
King of great fame, Ravana, together with those women with good appearance entered that garden resounded by animals and birds.
ksiibo vicitraabharanah shankukarno mahaabalah |
tena vishravasah putrah sa dristo raaksasaadhipah || 5-18-28
vritah paramanaariibhistaaraabhiriva candraamaah |
tam dadarsha mahaatejaastejovantam mahaakapih || 5-18-29
That king of Rakshasas who was intoxicated with wonderful ornaments, with pointed ears, son of Visravasa was like the moon together with stars, together with best women was seen by Hanuma. That great Vanara with great brilliance saw that Ravana with glory.
raavano.ayam mahaabaahuriti samchintya vaanarah |
avapluto mahaatejaa hanumaanmaarutaatmajah || 5-18-30
The son of god of wind Vanara Hanuma of great brilliance thinking thus "This long armed one is Ravana", jumped down.
sa tathaapyugratejaah sannirdhuutastasya tejasaa |
patraguhyaantare sakto hanumaan samvrito.abhavat || 5-18-31
Thus Hanuma although of terrible energy was overshadowed by Ravana's brilliance and became rooted behind a group of leaves and was concealed.
sa taamasitakeshaantaam sushroniim samhatastaniim |
didrikshurasitaapaangamupaavartata raavanah || 5-18-32
That Ravana neared Seetha with black hair, with charming limbs with well knit breasts, with black corners of eyes, wishing to see her.
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye sundarakaande astaadashah sargah
Thus completes 18th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate