Ravana Enters the Ashoka Grove

Shloka 1 (sundara.18.1)

तथा विप्रेक्षमाणस्य वनं पुष्पितपादपम् । विचिन्वतश्च वैदेहीं किञ्चिच्छेषा निशाभवत् ॥ 18.1 ॥

tathā viprekṣamāṇasya vanaṃ puṣpitapādapam | vicinvataśca vaidehīṃ kiñciccheṣā niśābhavat ||

Thus, while he gazed upon the grove of blossoming trees and searched for Vaidehi, a little of the night still remained.

Shloka 2 (sundara.18.2)

षडंगवेदविदुषां क्रतुप्रवरयाजिनाम् । शुश्राव ब्रह्मघोषान् स विरात्रे ब्रह्मरक्षसाम् ॥ 18.2 ॥

ṣaḍaṅgavedaviduṣāṃ kratupravarayājinām | śuśrāva brahmaghoṣān sa virātre brahmarakṣasām ||

In that latter part of the night, he heard the Vedic chanting of brahma-rakshasas learned in the six auxiliary sciences of the Veda and skilled in performing the finest sacrifices.

Shloka 3 (sundara.18.3)

अथ मंगलवादित्रैः शब्दैः श्रोत्रमनोहरैः । प्राबोध्यत महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवो महाबलः ॥ 18.3 ॥

atha maṅgalavāditrai śabdaiḥ śrotramanoharaiḥ | prābodhyata mahābāhur daśagrīvo mahābalaḥ ||

Then mighty-armed Dashagriva, of immense strength, was awakened by the ear-pleasing sounds of auspicious musical instruments.

Shloka 4 (sundara.18.4)

विबुध्य तु महाभागो राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान् । स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरो वैदेहीमन्वचिन्तयत् ॥ 18.4 ॥

vibudhya tu mahābhāgo rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān | srastamālyāmbaradharo vaidehīm anvacintayat ||

On waking, that illustrious, mighty lord of rakshasas, his garland and robe hanging loose, fell to thinking of none but Vaidehi.

Shloka 5 (sundara.18.5)

भृशं नियुक्तस्तस्यां च मदनेन मदोत्कटः । न तु तं राक्षसः कामं शशाकात्मनि गूहितुम् ॥ 18.5 ॥

bhṛśaṃ niyuktas tasyāṃ ca madanena madotkaṭaḥ | na tu taṃ rākṣasaḥ kāmaṃ śaśākātmani gūhitum ||

Urged fiercely toward her by the god of desire, drunk with passion, that rakshasa could not conceal his longing within himself.

Shloka 6 (sundara.18.6)

स सर्वाभरणैर्युक्तो बिभ्रच्छ्रियमनुत्तमाम् । तां नगैर्विविधैर्जुष्टां सर्वपुष्पफलोपगैः ॥ 18.6 ॥

sa sarvābharaṇair yukto bibhracchriyam anuttamām | tāṃ nagair vividhair juṣṭāṃ sarvapuṣpaphalopagaiḥ ||

Adorned with every ornament, bearing an unrivaled splendor, he approached that garden, rich with trees of every kind laden with flowers and fruit --

Shloka 7 (sundara.18.7)

वृतां पुष्करिणीभिश्च नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम् । सदा मत्तैश्च विहगैर्विचित्रां परमाद्भुतैः ॥ 18.7 ॥

vṛtāṃ puṣkariṇībhiśca nānāpuṣpopaśobhitām | sadā mattaiśca vihagair vicitrāṃ paramādbhutaiḥ ||

-- surrounded by lotus-ponds, adorned with manifold flowers, ever alive with birds intoxicated, strange and wondrous.

Shloka 8 (sundara.18.8)

ईहामृगैश्च विविधैर्वृतां दृष्टिमनोहरैः । वीथीः सम्प्रेक्षमाणश्च मणिकाञ्चनतोरणाम् ॥ 18.8 ॥

īhāmṛgaiśca vividhair vṛtāṃ dṛṣṭimanoharaiḥ | vīthīḥ samprekṣamāṇaśca maṇikāñcanatoraṇām ||

-- filled with varied artificial deer, delightful to the eye; and gazing upon its avenues arched with gateways of gems and gold --

Shloka 9 (sundara.18.9)

नानामृगगणाकीर्णां फलैः प्रपतितैर्वृताम् । अशोकवनिकामेव प्राविशत् संततद्रुमाम् ॥ 18.9 ॥

nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇāṃ phalaiḥ prapatitair vṛtām | aśokavanikām eva prāviśat saṃtatadrumām ||

-- crowded with herds of varied deer, strewn with fallen fruit, dense with trees -- he entered that very ashoka grove.

Shloka 10 (sundara.18.10)

अंगनाः शतमात्रं तु तं व्रजन्तमनुव्रजन् । महेन्द्रमिव पौलस्त्यं देवगन्धर्वयोषितः ॥ 18.10 ॥

aṅganāḥ śatamātraṃ tu taṃ vrajantam anuvrajan | mahendram iva paulastyaṃ devagandharvayoṣitaḥ ||

As he went, some hundred women followed after that descendant of Pulastya, as celestial and gandharva women follow behind great Indra.

Shloka 11 (sundara.18.11)

दीपिकाः काञ्चनीः काश्चिज्जगृहुस्तत्र योषितः । वालव्यजनहस्ताश्च तालवृन्तानि चापराः ॥ 18.11 ॥

dīpikāḥ kāñcanīḥ kāścij jagṛhus tatra yoṣitaḥ | vālavyajanahastāśca tālavṛntāni cāparāḥ ||

Some of those women carried golden lamps; others held yak-tail fans in hand, and yet others fans of palm-leaf.

Shloka 12 (sundara.18.12)

काञ्चनैश्चैव भृंगारैर्जह्रुः सलिलमग्रतः । मण्डलाग्रा बृसीश्चैव गृह्यान्याः पृष्ठतो ययुः ॥ 18.12 ॥

kāñcanaiścaiva bhṛṅgārair jahruḥ salilam agrataḥ | maṇḍalāgrā bṛsīścaiva gṛhyānyāḥ pṛṣṭhato yayuḥ ||

Those in front carried water in golden pitchers; others, walking behind, carried round-edged cushions in their hands.

Shloka 13 (sundara.18.13)

काचिद् रत्नमयीं पात्रीं पूर्णां पानस्य भ्राजतीम् । दक्षिणा दक्षिणेनैव तदा जग्राह पाणिना ॥ 18.13 ॥

kācid ratnamayīṃ pātrīṃ pūrṇāṃ pānasya bhrājatīm | dakṣiṇā dakṣiṇenaiva tadā jagrāha pāṇinā ||

One woman, at his right side, held in her right hand a jewel-studded goblet, brimming and gleaming with wine.

Shloka 14 (sundara.18.14)

राजहंसप्रतीकाशं छत्रं पूर्णशशिप्रभम् । सौवर्णदण्डमपरा गृहीत्वा पृष्ठतो ययौ ॥ 18.14 ॥

rājahaṃsapratīkāśaṃ chatraṃ pūrṇaśaśiprabham | sauvarṇadaṇḍam aparā gṛhītvā pṛṣṭhato yayau ||

Another walked behind, bearing a parasol white as a royal swan, radiant as the full moon, its handle of gold.

Shloka 15 (sundara.18.15)

निद्रामदपरीताक्ष्यो रावणस्योत्तमस्त्रियः । अनुजग्मुः पतिं वीरं घनं विद्युल्लता इव ॥ 18.15 ॥

nidrāmadaparītākṣyo rāvaṇasyottamastriyaḥ | anujagmuḥ patiṃ vīraṃ ghanaṃ vidyullatā iva ||

Ravana's finest women, their eyes heavy with sleep and wine, followed their heroic lord as streaks of lightning follow a cloud.

Shloka 16 (sundara.18.16)

व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः समामृदितवर्णकाः । समागलितकेशान्ताः सस्वेदवदनास्तथा ॥ 18.16 ॥

vyāviddhahārakeyūrāḥ samāmṛditavarṇakāḥ | samāgalitakeśāntāḥ sasvedavadanās tathā ||

Their necklaces and armlets in disarray, the paste on their bodies smeared and blurred, their hair coming loose at the ends, their faces damp with sweat --

Shloka 17 (sundara.18.17)

घूर्णन्त्यो मदशेषेण निद्रया च शुभाननाः । स्वेदक्लिष्टांगकुसुमाः समाल्याकुलमूर्धजाः ॥ 18.17 ॥

ghūrṇantyo madaśeṣeṇa nidrayā ca śubhānanāḥ | svedakliṣṭāṅgakusumāḥ samālyākulamūrdhajāḥ ||

-- those lovely-faced women reeling still with the last traces of wine and sleep, the flowers on their sweat-damp limbs wilted, the garlands in their hair tangled and disheveled.

Shloka 18 (sundara.18.18)

प्रयान्तं नैर्ऋतपतिं नार्यो मदिरलोचनाः । बहुमानाच्च कामाच्च प्रियभार्यास्तमन्वयुः ॥ 18.18 ॥

prayāntaṃ nairṛtapatiṃ nāryo madiralocanāḥ | bahumānācca kāmācca priyabhāryās tam anvayuḥ ||

Those women of intoxicating eyes, his beloved wives, followed the lord of rakshasas as he walked on, moved by both reverence and desire.

Shloka 19 (sundara.18.19)

स च कामपराधीनः पतिस्तासां महाबलः । सीतासक्तमना मन्दो मन्दाञ्चितगतिर्बभौ ॥ 18.19 ॥

sa ca kāmaparādhīnaḥ patis tāsāṃ mahābalaḥ | sītāsaktamanā mando mandāñcitagatir babhau ||

And their mighty husband, mastered by desire, his mind fixed on Sita, dull with longing, moved with a slow and swaying gait.

Shloka 20 (sundara.18.20)

ततः काञ्चीनिनादं च नूपुराणां च निःस्वनम् । शुश्राव परमस्त्रीणां कपिर्मारुतनन्दनः ॥ 18.20 ॥

tataḥ kāñcīninādaṃ ca nūpurāṇāṃ ca niḥsvanam | śuśrāva paramastrīṇāṃ kapir mārutanandanaḥ ||

Then Hanuman, son of the wind, heard the tinkling of the girdles and the jingling of the anklets of those fine women.

Shloka 21 (sundara.18.21)

तं चाप्रतिमकर्माणमचिन्त्यबलपौरुषम् । द्वारदेशमनुप्राप्तं ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः ॥ 18.21 ॥

taṃ cāpratimakarmāṇam acintyabalapauruṣam | dvāradeśam anuprāptaṃ dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ ||

The vanara Hanuman saw him -- that one of matchless deeds, of unimaginable strength and prowess -- arriving now at the entrance.

Shloka 22 (sundara.18.22)

दीपिकाभिरनेकाभिः समन्तादवभासितम् । गन्धतैलावसिक्ताभिर्ध्रियमाणाभिरग्रतः ॥ 18.22 ॥

dīpikābhir anekābhiḥ samantād avabhāsitam | gandhatailāvasiktābhir dhriyamāṇābhir agrataḥ ||

He was lit up on every side by many lamps, drenched with fragrant oil, borne before him.

Shloka 23 (sundara.18.23)

कामदर्पमदैर्युक्तं जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम् । समक्षमिव कंदर्पमपविद्धशरासनम् ॥ 18.23 ॥

kāmadarpamadair yuktaṃ jihmatāmrāyatekṣaṇam | samakṣam iva kandarpam apaviddhaśarāsanam ||

Charged with lust, pride, and intoxication, his eyes tawny-red and slanting, he seemed like the god of love himself, standing before them, his bow cast aside.

Shloka 24 (sundara.18.24)

मथितामृतफेनाभमरजोवस्त्रमुत्तमम् । सपुष्पमवकर्षन्तं विमुक्तं सक्तमंगदे ॥ 18.24 ॥

mathitāmṛtaphenābham arajovastram uttamam | sapuṣpam avakarṣantaṃ vimuktaṃ saktam aṅgade ||

He kept adjusting his fine, spotless upper garment, white as the froth of churned nectar and strewn with flowers, which kept slipping loose, caught as it was on his armlet.

Shloka 25 (sundara.18.25)

तं पत्रविटपे लीनः पत्रपुष्पशतावृतः । समीपमुपसंक्रान्तं विज्ञातुमुपचक्रमे ॥ 18.25 ॥

taṃ patravaṭape līnaḥ patrapuṣpaśatāvṛtaḥ | samīpam upasaṃkrāntaṃ vijñātum upacakrame ||

Hidden among the leaves and branches, screened by hundreds of leaves and flowers, Hanuman set himself to discern that one now drawing near.

Shloka 26 (sundara.18.26)

अवेक्षमाणस्तु तदा ददर्श कपिकुञ्जरः । रूपयौवनसम्पन्ना रावणस्य वरस्त्रियः ॥ 18.26 ॥

avekṣamāṇas tu tadā dadarśa kapikuñjaraḥ | rūpayauvanasampannā rāvaṇasya varastriyaḥ ||

Looking about him then, the great vanara beheld Ravana's finest women, endowed with beauty and youth.

Shloka 27 (sundara.18.27)

ताभिः परिवृतो राजा सुरूपाभिर्महायशाः । तन्मृगद्विजसंघुष्टं प्रविष्टः प्रमदावनम् ॥ 18.27 ॥

tābhiḥ parivṛto rājā surūpābhir mahāyaśāḥ | tanmṛgadvijasaṃghuṣṭaṃ praviṣṭaḥ pramadāvanam ||

Surrounded by those beautiful women, the king of great renown entered that pleasure-grove, resounding with the cries of deer and birds.

Shloka 28 (sundara.18.28)

क्षीबो विचित्राभरणः शङ्कुकर्णो महाबलः । तेन विश्रवसः पुत्रः स दृष्टो राक्षसाधिपः ॥ 18.28 ॥

kṣībo vicitrābharaṇaḥ śaṅkukarṇo mahābalaḥ | tena viśravasaḥ putraḥ sa dṛṣṭo rākṣasādhipaḥ ||

Intoxicated, adorned with wondrous ornaments, his ears sharp-pointed, that mighty lord of rakshasas, son of Vishrava, was seen thus by Hanuman.

Shloka 29 (sundara.18.29)

वृतः परमनारीभिस्ताराभिरिव चन्द्रमाः । तं ददर्श महातेजास्तेजोवन्तं महाकपिः ॥ 18.29 ॥

vṛtaḥ paramanārībhis tārābhir iva candramāḥ | taṃ dadarśa mahātejās tejovantaṃ mahākapiḥ ||

Surrounded by his splendid women as the moon by stars, that radiant Ravana was seen by the great, mighty vanara.

Shloka 30 (sundara.18.30)

रावणोऽयं महाबाहुरिति संचिन्त्य वानरः । सोऽयमेव पुरा शेते पुरमध्ये गृहोत्तमे । अवप्लुतो महातेजा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥ 18.30 ॥

rāvaṇo'yaṃ mahābāhur iti saṃcintya vānaraḥ | so'yam eva purā śete puramadhye gṛhottame | avaplutaḥ mahātejā hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ ||

"This is that mighty-armed Ravana; this is the very one who before lay sleeping in the finest mansion in the midst of the city" -- thinking thus, the mighty son of the wind, Hanuman, leapt back out of sight.

Shloka 31 (sundara.18.31)

स तथाप्युग्रतेजाः स निर्धूतस्तस्य तेजसा । पत्रे गुह्यान्तरे सक्तो मतिमान् संवृतोऽभवत् ॥ 18.31 ॥

sa tathāpy ugratejāḥ sa nirdhūtas tasya tejasā | patre guhyāntare sakto matimān saṃvṛto'bhavat ||

Yet he, though of fierce energy, seemingly overwhelmed by that one's own splendor, wisely clung close within a hidden covert of leaves and was concealed.

Shloka 32 (sundara.18.32)

स तामसितकेशान्तां सुश्रोणीं संहतस्तनीम् । दिदृक्षुरसितापांगीमुपावर्तत रावणः ॥ 18.32 ॥

sa tām asitakeśāntāṃ suśroṇīṃ saṃhatastanīm | didṛkṣur asitāpāṅgīm upāvartata rāvaṇaḥ ||

And Ravana, longing to look upon her -- that woman of dark-tressed hair, shapely hips, close-set breasts, and dark-cornered eyes -- turned and drew near to her.