पुष्पितपादपम् flowering trees, वनम् grove, तथा likewise, विप्रेक्ष्यमाणस्य of the observer, वैदेहीम् Vaidehi, विचिन्वतश्च while searching, निशा night, किञ्चिच्छेषा a small part, अभवत् was left.
Meaning
The night came to a close while Hanuman went searching and looking for Sita at Ashoka grove full of flowering trees.
ṣaḍaṅgavedaviduṣāṃ kratupravarayājinām| śuśrāva brahmaghoṣāṃśca sa virātre brahmarakṣasām||5.18.2||
Translation
सः he, विरात्रे at the end of the night, षडङ्गवेदविदुषाम् of those who were knowledgeable of Vedas and its six auxillary branches of sciences, क्रतुप्रवरयाजिनाम् those who were experts in performing exalted sacrificial ceremonies, ब्रह्मरक्षसाम् of brahmins among demons, ब्रह्मघोषान् sounds of Vedas, शुश्राव heard.
Meaning
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 wellversed in performing exalted sacrificial ceremonies were heard.
अथ at that time, महाबाहुः strongarmed, महाबलः powerful, दशग्रीवः tennecked one, श्रुतिमनोहरैः with sounds delighting ears, मङ्गलवादित्रशब्दै: with auspicious sounds of musical instruments, प्राबुध्यत was awakened.
Meaning
By that time the strongarmed, powerful, tennecked Ravana was awakened by the delightful sounds of auspicious musical instruments.
प्रतापवान् chivalrous person, राक्षसेन्द्रः lord of demons, यथाकालम् at the usual time, विबुध्य after waking , स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरः with disarrayed garland and raiment, वैदेहीम् of Vaidehi, अन्वचिन्तयत् thought.
Meaning
The chivalrous lord of demons woke up as usual.His raiment and garland were still in disarray and he thought of Vaidehi.
bhṛśṃ niyuktastasyāṃ ca madanena madotkaṭḥ| na sa tṃ rākṣasḥ kāmṃ śaśākātmani gūhitum||5.18.5||
Translation
तस्यां at her, मदनेन on account of his passion, भृशम् exceedingly, नियुक्तः gripped, मदोत्कटः overwhelmed with intoxication, सः he, राक्षसः demon, तं कामम् his passion, आत्मनि in himself, गूहितुम् to hide, न शशाक was not able.
Meaning
The demon king who was unable to hide his great passion and control his senses was drawn towards Sita, in his state of intoxication.
sa sarvābharaṇairyukto bibhracchriyamanuttamām| tāṃ nagairbahubhirjuṣṭāṃ sarvapuṣpaphalopagaiḥ||5.18.6||
Translation
सर्वाभरणैः with all ornaments, युक्तः adorned with, अनुत्तमाम् excellent, श्रियम् splendour, बिभ्रत् hearing, सः he, सर्वपुष्पफलोपगैः filled with all kinds of flowers and fruits, बहुभिः with many, नगैः with trees, जुष्टाम् flourishing, ताम् such.
Meaning
Adorned with all ornaments and glowing with excellent splendour he went through the path filled with trees flourishing with all kinds of flowers and fruits.
पुष्करिणीभिः with ponds, वृताम् covered, नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम् beautiful with different kinds of flowers, सदा मदैः always elated, विहगैः with birds, विचित्राम् colourful, परमाद्भुताम् very wonderful.
Meaning
Ponds covered with a variety of beautiful flowers and colourful birds always cheerful looked very wonderful.
मणिकाञ्चनतोरणाः gateways ornamented with gold and gems, वीथीः pathways, सम्प्रेक्षमाणश्च observing, दृष्टिमनोहरैः with those pleasant to see, विविधैः with several, ईहामृगैश्च with wolves, जुष्टाम् occupies (with pleasure), नानामृगगणाकीर्णाम् filled with several kinds of animals herds, प्रपतितैः dropped from the trees, फलैः with fruits, वृताम् surrounded, सन्ततद्रुमाम् filled with a long stretch trees, अशोकवनिकामेव into the Ashoka garden, प्राविशत् entered.
Meaning
Watching the garden filled with trees, gateways ornamented with gold and gems, he entered through the pleasant pathways in the Ashoka garden. There were wonderful wolves and several herds of animals in the garden. Fruits dropped from trees were strewn all over.
aṅganāśatamātrṃ tu tṃ vrajantamanuvrajat| mahendramiva paulastyṃ devagandharvayoṣitḥ||5.18.10||
Translation
व्रजन्तम् while sauntering, तम् him, पौलस्त्यम् Poulastya, अङ्गनाशतमात्रम् only a hundred maidens, महेन्द्रम् Mahendra, देवगन्धर्वयोषितः females of gods and gandharvas, अनुव्रजत् were following.
Meaning
Ravana, son of sage Paulasti, was followed by a hundred women, just as Indra is trailed by the females of gods and gandharvas.
तत्र there, काश्चित् a few, योषितः women, काञ्चनीः golden, दीपिकाः lamps, जगृहु held, अपराः others, तालवृन्तानि plamleaf fans, जगृहुः were holding, वालव्यजन हस्ताश्च some women held fans of the hair of yaktail.
Meaning
Some women carried golden lamps, some held yalk tail fans in their hands while others bore palmleaf fans.
काञ्चनैः golden, भृङ्गारैः pitchers, अग्रतः ahead of him, सलिलम् water, जह्रुः they carried, अन्याः others, मण्डलाग्रा: circular, बृसी: च अपि couches (rolls of twisted grass used as seats), गृह्य by holding, पृष्ठतः behind, ययुः moved.
Meaning
Some moved ahead of him carrying water in golden pitchers. Others followed him carrying circular couches (to be used as seats).
काचित् one, भामिनी a glowing lady, दक्षिणा a compassionate lady, रत्नमयीम् bejewelled, पूर्णाम् filled completely, पानस्य wine, स्थालीम् jar, दक्षिणेनैव पाणिना with her right hand only, जग्राह carried.
Meaning
One glorious and compassionate lady carried in her right hand a gemstudded jar filled with wine.
अपरा another lady, राजहंसप्रतीकाशम् resembling a royal swan, पूर्णशशिप्रभम् bright like fullmoon, सौवर्णदण्डम् having a golden handle, छत्रम् umbrella, गृहीत्वा taking, पृष्ठतः behind, ययौ went.
Meaning
Another shedemon moved behind him holding an umbrella with a golden handle which was white like a royal swan and bright like the fullmoon.
निद्रामदपरीताक्ष्यः with eyes dizzy with sleep and intoxication, रावणस्य Ravana's, उत्तमाः prime, स्त्रियः wives, विद्युल्लताः like streaks of lightning, घनमिव like the the cloud, वीरम् heroic, पतिम् husband, अनुजग्मुः followed.
Meaning
The chief wives of Ravana with eyes dizzy with sleep and drinking followed their heroic husband like streaks of lightning follow a thunder cloud. (Ravana who was dark looked like a cloud and the women with dazzling golden complexion appeared like lightning.)
व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः with necklaces and armlets disarrayed, समामृदितवर्णकाः with smudged sandal paste and other unguents on the body, समागलितकेशान्ताः with loosened hair, तथा likewise, सस्वेदवदनाः with sweat on the faces, मदशेषेण dizzy with leftover intoxication, निद्रया च and also due to sleep, घूर्णन्त्यः moving to and fro, स्वेदक्लिष्टाङ्गकुसुमाः due to wilting of flowers by the sweat on their limbs, सुमाल्याकुलमूर्धजाः adorned with beautiful flowers in their hair, मदिरलोचनाः drunkeneyed, प्रियाः dear, भार्याः wives, नार्यः ladies, बहुमानाच्च due to high regard, कामाच्च and due to passion, प्रयान्तम् as he advanced, तम् him, नैऋतपतिम् the lord of demons, अन्वयुः followed.
Meaning
The necklaces and armlets (of the wives) disarrayed, the sandal paste and other unguents on the body smudged, hair hanging down their faces, the sweating damsels followed Ravana. They were dizzy with leftover intoxication and sleep and were swaying from side to side. Their dishevelled hair was loose and faces filled with sweat, their flower garlands on the body had wilted due to sweat on their limbs. The drunken wives of Ravana, actuated by their high regard and passion for him followed as he advanced with drunken eyes.
sa ca kāmaparādhīna: patistāsāṃ mahābalḥ| sītāsaktamanā mando mandāñcitagatirbabhau||5.18.19||
Translation
तासाम् their, पतिः husband, महाबलः powerful, कामपराधीनः under the control of passion, स च and he, मन्दः dull, सीतासक्तमनाः absorbed in the thoughts of Sita, मन्दाञ्चितगतिः walked slowly with measured steps, बभौ became.
Meaning
Their husband, powerful Ravana under the control of passion looking dull, absorbed in the thoughts of Sita walked slowly as though counting his steps.
tatḥ kāñcīninādṃ ca nūpurāṇāṃ ca nisvanam| śuśrāva paramastrīṇāṃ sa kapirmārutātmajḥ||5.18.20||
Translation
ततः then, मारुतात्मजः son of the Windgod, सः कपिः that vanara, परमस्त्रीणाम् of those chief wives, काञ्चीनिनादं च the sound of golden girdles with small bells, नूपुराणाम् of their anklets, निस्वनं च sound, शुश्राव heard.
Meaning
Then Hanuman, son of the Windgod, heard their jingling golden girdles and anklets.
कपिः vanara, हनुमान् Hanuman, अप्रतिमकर्माणम् one who does incomparable deeds, अचिन्त्यबलपौरुषम् a hero of unimaginable strength and valour, द्वारदेशम् the entrance, अनुप्राप्तम् reached, तं च him, ददर्श saw.
Meaning
Then Hanuman, the Vanara saw Ravana of extraordinary deeds, and of unimaginable strength and valour at the entrance (of Ashoka garden)
गन्धतैलावसिक्ताभिः wet with fragrant oil, अग्रतः in front, ध्रियमाणाभिः held, अनेकाभिः by many, दीपिकाभिः with lamps, समन्तात् everywhere, अवभासितम् was shining.
Meaning
Hanuman saw him in the glow of lamps wet with fragrant oil carried by many shedemons all over.
कामदर्पमदैः by lust, pride and intoxication, युक्तम् endowed, जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम् possesed of long curved bloodshot eyes, अपविद्धशरासनम् who set aside his quiver, समक्षम् directly, कन्दर्पमिव like god of love.
Meaning
Hanuman saw him, who was possessed of lust, arrogance and intoxication. He appeared like Cupid setting aside his quiver and arrows with his curved, big, red eyes.
मथितामृतफेनाभम् looking like the foam of churned nectar, अरजः without any dust, विमुक्तम् slipped, अङ्गदे in his armlet, सक्तम् stuck, उत्तमम् best, वस्त्रम् cloth, सलीलम् sportively, अनुकर्षन्तम् dragging.
Meaning
He was playfully pulling up his upper garment that slipped and stuck to his armlet. This excellent unsoiled robe was looking like the foam of churned nectar.
समीपम् close by, संक्रान्तमिव drawn nearer, तम् him, पत्रविटपे on a branch covered with leaves, लीनः concealed, पत्रपुष्पघनावृतः thickly covered with leaves and flowers, निध्यातुम् to scan the identity, उपचक्रमे started.
Meaning
Hanuman seated on a leafy branch (of the simsupa tree) thickly covered with leaves and flowers started scanning the identity of Ravana who was drawing nearer.
avekṣamāṇastu tato dadarśa kapikuñjarḥ| rūpayauvanasampannā rāvaṇasya varastriyḥ||5.18.26||
Translation
ततः then, कपिकुञ्जरः leader of the monkeys, अवेक्षमाणः while looking carefully, रावणस्य Ravana's, रूपयौवनसम्पन्नाः endowed with youth and beauty, वरस्त्रियः chief wives, ददर्श saw.
Meaning
The leader of the monkeys started gazing at the chief wives of Ravana endowed with youth and beauty৷৷
महायशाः glorious one, राजा king, सुरूपाभिः with charming ones, ताभिः with those women, परिवृतः surrounded, मृगद्विजसङ्घुष्टम् echoed with sounds of beasts and birds, तत् that, प्रमदावनम् grove for women, प्रविष्टः entered.
Meaning
Surrounded by beauties, the glorious king entered the grove meant for women, reverberating with the sounds of beasts and birds.
kṣībo vicitrābharaṇḥ śaṅkukarṇo mahābalḥ| tena viśravasḥ putrḥ sa dṛṣṭo rākṣasādhipḥ||5.18.28|| vṛtḥ paramanārībhistārābhiriva candramāḥ| tṃ dadarśa mahātejāstejovantṃ mahākapiḥ||5.18.29||
Translation
क्षीबः excited by drinking, विचित्राभरणः wore wonderful ornaments, शङ्कुकर्णः with long tapering ears, विश्रवसः of Visravas, पुत्रः son, ताराभिः with stars, चन्द्रमाः इव like the Moon, परमनारीभिः with damsels, वृतः surrounded, सः he, राक्षसाधिपः king of demons, तेन by him, दृष्टः seen, महातेजाः brilliant, महाकपिः great vanara, तेजोवन्तम् splendid, तम् him, ददर्शे saw.
Meaning
The brilliant vanara looked at the son of Visravas (Ravana), the demon king adorned with wonderful ornaments. He had long tapering ears. He was intoxicated with drink. Encircled by damsels, he was looking like the Moon surrounded by stars.
मारुतात्मजः son of the Windgod, वानरः vanara, महातेजाः brilliant one, हनुमान् Hanuman, अयम् this, महाबाहुः strongarmed, रावणः Ravana, इति this, सञ्चिन्त्य having thought, अवप्लुतः got down.
Meaning
The brilliant vanara (Hanuman), son of the Windgod recognising the strongarmed Ravana got down a little, saying 'This is truly the strongarmed Ravana.'
sa tathāpyugratejāḥ sannirdhūtastasya tejasā| patraguhyāntare sakto hanumān sṃvṛto'bhavat||5.18.31||
Translation
तथा such, उग्रतेजाः possessed of extraordinary energy, सः he, हनुमान् Hanuman, तस्य his, तेजसा by the might, निर्धूतः taken aback, पत्रगुह्यान्तरे deep in the leaves, सक्तः concealed, संवृतः covered, अभवत् remained there.
Meaning
Hanuman, possessed of extraordinary energy, was taken aback at the might of Ravana. He remained hiding covered over with leaves.
sa tāmasitakeśāntāṃ suśroṇīṃ sṃhatastnīm| didṛkṣurasitāpāṅgāmupāvartata rāvaṇḥ||5.18.32||
Translation
सः he, रावणः Ravana, असितकेशान्ताम् darkhaired lady, सुश्रोणीम् a lady of beautiful hips, संहतस्त्नीम् a lady of plump breasts, असितापाङ्गाम् with dark side glances, ताम् her, दिदृक्षुः desiring to see, उपावर्तत returned
Meaning
With the desire to see Sita endowed with black hair, beautiful hips, plump breasts and dark sideglances, Ravana returned (to Ashokavana). इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे अष्टादशस्सर्गः। Thus ends the eighteenth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.