Sanskrit Text in Telugu , Kannada, Gujarati, Devanagari, English

|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 18

Now we see what happened in the 18th Sarga briefly .

At the end of the night, in the early morning hours of the day
Hanuman heard sound of Vedas from those Brahmins among Rakshasas who are experts in the Vedas and the six auxiliary parts thereof .

Waking up as per time with disarranged garlands and garments, the valorous king of Rakshasas thought about Vaidehi. Gripped by his exceedingly high passion for Vaidehi ,
and overwhelmed with that passion the Rakshasa could not hide his passion within himself.

Adorned with all excellent ornaments glowing with splendor,
he went to that Ashoka grove full of trees filled with all kinds of flowers and fruits. He entered the Ashoka grove observing path ways, gateways ornamented with gold and gems. The grove was occupied by several wolves, filled with variety of herds of animals. Fruits fallen from the trees can be seen everywhere.

Ravana was followed by his wives adorned with beautiful flowers in their hair, with garlands of wilted flowers due to sweat from their limbs, moving to and fro, being dizzy with left over intoxication as well as due to left over sleep. Their husband, the powerful and dull Ravana who is under the control of passion, with a mind full of thoughts on Sita walked slowly.

Ravana was shining in the glow of fragrant oil lamps held in the front by many everywhere. Endowed with lust pride and intoxication, possessed of long hot red eyes with his quiver and arrows set aside, he looked like Manmatha himself. Without any dust, looking like foam of the churned nectar,
the upper cloth which was stuck in his armlet was sportively dragged.

Hidden in the leaves on the branch covered with leaves and flowers Hanuman looked at the identity of the one coming nearer. Then the best of Vanaras looking carefully saw
the Ravana's chief women who are young and beautiful.
The famous king surrounded by beautiful charming women entered the grove A grove meant for women which echoed with sounds of beasts and birds. The very powerful son of Visravasa, the king of Rakshasas excited by drinking, wearing wonderful ornaments, with long tapering ears, was seen by Hanuma.

The powerful Hanuman, the son of wind god , thinking that "this one with strong arms is Ravana" came down a little as though to have a peek. Hanuman , possessor of extraordinary strength was taken aback by the might of Ravana. Concealed deep in the leaves he remained there.

Now we go through the Sloaks of Sarga 18, with meanings

||Sloka 18.01||

तथा विप्रेक्षमानस्य वनं पुष्पित पादपं।
विचिन्वतश्च वैदेहीं किंचित् शेषा निशाऽभवत्॥18.01||

स॥ पुष्पित पादपं वनं विप्रेक्षमानस्य वैदेहीं विचिन्वतः च तथा निशा किंचित् शेषा अभवत् ||

||Sloka meanings||

वैदेहीं विचिन्वतः -
while searching for Sita
पुष्पित पादपं वनं विप्रेक्षमानस्य च -
seeing the grove with flowering trees
तथा निशा किंचित् शेषा अभवत् -
very little of the night was left

||Sloka summary||

"While seeing those trees laden with flowers and searching for Sita, very little of the night was left." ||18.01||

||Sloka 18.02||

षडङ्गवेदविदुषां क्रतुप्रवरयाजिनां।
शुश्राव ब्रह्मघोषांश्च विरात्रे ब्रह्मरक्षसाम्॥18.02||

स॥ विरात्रे सः षडंगवेदविदुषां क्रतुप्रवरयाजिनां ब्रह्म रक्षसाम् ब्रह्मघोषां च शुश्राव॥

Rama Tika says- ब्रह्म राक्षसां ब्राह्मणराक्षसानां, ब्रह्मघोषान् वेदनिनदान्, विरात्रे रात्रि अवसाने।

॥Sloka meanings||

विरात्रे सः - at the end of the night
षडंगवेदविदुषां -
those who are experts in the Vedas and its six auxiliary parts
क्रतुप्रवरयाजिनां -
those who are also experts on performing sacrificial ceremonies
ब्रह्म रक्षसाम् -
of Brahmins among Rakshasas
ब्रह्म घोषां च शुश्राव -
sounds of Vedas too he heard

||Sloka summary||

"At the end of the night, he heard sound of Vedas from those Brahmins among Rakshasas who are experts in the Vedas and the six auxiliary parts thereof and who are also experts on performing sacrificial ceremonies." ||18.02||

||Sloka 18.03||

अथमङ्गळवादित्रैः शब्दैः श्रोत्रमनोहरैः।
प्राबुध्यत महाबाहुः दशग्रीवो महाबलः॥18.03||

स॥ अथ महाबाहुः महाबलः दशग्रीवः श्रुतिमनोहरः मंगळवादित्र शब्दैः प्राबुध्यत ||

||Sloka meanings||

अथ महाबाहुः -
then the one with powerful arms
महाबलः दशग्रीवः -
the powerful ten headed one
श्रुतिमनोहरः मंगळवादित्र शब्दैः -
delightful sounds of auspicious musical instruments.
प्राबुध्यत - awakened by

||Sloka summary||

Then the powerful ten headed one with powerful arms was awakened by the delightful sounds of auspicious musical instruments.

||Sloka 18.04||

विबुध्यतु यथाकालं राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्।
स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरो वैदेहीम् अन्वचिन्तयत्॥18.04||

स॥ प्रतापवान् राक्षसेन्द्रः यथाकालं विबुध्य स्रस्तमाल्यांबरधरः वैदेहीं अन्वचिंतयत् ||

||Sloka meanings||

प्रतापवान् राक्षसेन्द्रः -
the valorous king of Rakshasas
यथाकालं विबुध्य -
waking up as per time
स्रस्तमाल्यांबरधरः -
with disarranged garlands and garments
वैदेहीं अन्वचिंतयत् -
thought about Vaidehi.

||Sloka summary||

"The valorous king of Rakshasas waking up as per time with disarranged garlands and garments thought about Vaidehi." ||18.04||

||Sloka 18.05||

भृशं नियुक्तस्तस्यां च मदनेन मदोत्कटाः।
न स तं राक्षसं कामं शशाकात्मनि गूहितम्॥18.05||

स॥ तस्यां मदनेन भृशम् नियुक्तः मदोत्कटः सः राक्षसः तं कामंआत्मनि गुहितुं न शशाक॥

॥Sloka meanings||

तस्यां मदनेन भृशम् नियुक्तः -
Gripped by his exceedingly high passion for her
मदोत्कटः सः -
overwhelmed with that passion
तं कामं आत्मनि -
that passion within him
गुहितुं न शशाक -
was unable to hide his passion

||Sloka summary||

"Gripped on account of his exceedingly high passion for her and overwhelmed with that passion, the Rakshasa could not hide his passion within himself." ||18.05||

||Sloka 18.06||

स सर्वाभरणैर्युक्तो बिभ्रत् श्रियमनुत्तमां।
तां नगैर्बहुभि र्जुष्टां सर्वपुष्पफलोपगैः॥18.6||

स॥ सः सर्वाभरणयुक्तः अनुत्तमाम् श्रियं बिभ्रत् सर्वपुष्पफलोपभैः बहुभिः नगैः जुष्टाम् तां ||

||Sloka meanings||

सः सर्वाभरणयुक्तः -
adorned with all excellent ornaments
अनुत्तमाम् श्रियं बिभ्रत् -
glowing with matchless splendor
सर्वपुष्पफलोपभैः -
with all kinds of flowers and fruits.
बहुभिः नगैः जुष्टाम् तां -
that grove, filled with many trees

||Sloka summary||

"Adorned with all excellent ornaments glowing with splendor, he went to (that grove) full of trees filled with all kinds of flowers and fruits." ||18.06||

||Sloka 18.07||

वृतां पुष्करिणीभिश्चनानापुष्पोपशोभिताम्।
सदामदैश्च विहगैः विचित्रां परमाद्भुतम्॥18.7||

स॥ पुष्करणीभिः वृत्तां नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम् सदा मदैश्च विहगैः विचित्रां परमाद्भुतम्॥

॥Sloka meanings||

पुष्करणीभिः वृत्तां -
full of ponds
नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम् -
shining with variety of flowers
सदा मदैश्च विहगैः विचित्रां -
also full with colorful birds
परमाद्भुतम् -
looked wonderful.

||Sloka summary||

The grove was full of ponds shining with variety of flowers as also with colorful birds which are excited and looked wonderful.||18.07||

||Sloka 18.08,09||

ईहामृगैश्च विविधैर्जुष्टां दृष्टिमनोहरैः।
वीथीः संप्रेक्षमाणश्च मणिकाञ्चनतोरणाः॥18.8||

नानामृग गणाकीर्णम् फलैः प्रपतितैर्वृताम्।
अशोकवनिकामेव प्राविशत् संततद्रुमाम्॥18.9||

स॥ मणिकांचन तोरणाः दृष्टिमनोहरैः वीथीः संप्रेक्षमाणः च विविधैः इहामृगैः च जुष्टां नानामृगगणाकीर्णं प्रपितैः फलैः वृतां संततद्रुमाम् अशोकवनिकां एव प्राविशत् ||

||Sloka meanings||

मणिकांचन तोरणाः -
gateways ornamented with gold and gems
दृष्टिमनोहरैः वीथीः संप्रेक्षमाणः च -
observing the pleasant looking pathways
विविधैः इहामृगैः नानामृगगणाकीर्णं च जुष्टां -
filled with variety of herds of animals as well as artificial ones
प्रपितैः फलैः वृतां संततद्रुमाम् -
full of trees surrounded by fruits fallen from the trees,
अशोकवनिकां एव प्राविशत् -
entered that Ashoka grove

||Sloka summary||

"Observing the pleasant to look at path ways, gateways ornamented with gold and gems, he entered the Ashoka grove full of trees surrounded by fruits fallen from the trees and filled with variety of herds of animals as well as artificial ones." ||18.09,08||

||Sloka 18.10||

अङ्गनाशतमात्रंतु तं व्रजंत मनुव्रजत्।
महेन्द्रमिव पौलस्त्यं देवगंधर्वयोषितः॥18.10||

स॥व्रजन्तं तं पौलस्त्यं शतमात्रं अंगनाः महेंद्रं देवगंधर्वयोषिताः इव अनुव्रजत्॥

॥Sloka meanings||

व्रजन्तं तं पौलस्त्यं -
that wandering son of Pulastya
शतमात्रं अंगनाः -
hundred women
महेंद्रं देवगंधर्वयोषिताः इव -
like Indra was (followed) by Deva Gandharva women.
अनुव्रजत् - followed

||Sloka summary||

"That wandering son of Pulastya was followed by hundred women, like Indra was followed by Deva Gandharva women." ||18.10||

||Sloka 18.11||

दीपिकाः काञ्चनीः काश्चित् जगृहुः तत्र योषितः।
वालव्यजनहस्ताश्च तालवृन्तानि चापराः॥18.11||

स॥तत्र काश्चित् योषितः कांचनीः दीपिकाः जगृहु। अपराः तालवृंतानि जगृहु॥ (अपराः) व्यालव्यजन हस्ताः च॥

॥Sloka meanings||

तत्र काश्चित् योषितः -
there some women
कांचनीः दीपिकाः जगृहु -
moved carrying golden lamps
अपराः तालवृंतानि जगृहु -
others carried palm leaf fans
(अपराः) व्यालव्यजन हस्ताः च-
(some others) held fans made of hair from Yak's tail

||Sloka summary||

"There some women carried golden lamps. Others carried palm leaf fans. Some others held fans made of hair from Yak's tail." ||18.11||

||Sloka 18.12||

काञ्चनैरपि भृंगारैः जह्रुः सलिलमग्रतः॥
मण्डलाग्रान् बृसींचैव गृह्याऽन्याः पृष्ठतो ययुः॥18.12||

स॥ अग्रतः कांचनैः भृंगारैः सलिलं जहृः || अन्याः मंडलाग्रान् बृसीः च अपि गृह्य पृष्टतः ययुः ||

||Sloka meanings||

अग्रतः कांचनैः भृंगारैः -
in the front with golden pitchers
सलिलं जहृः - carried water
अन्याः मंडलाग्रान् बृसीः च अपि-
others carried circular seats
पृष्टतः ययुः -
moved in the back

||Sloka summary||

"Some carried water in golden pitchers in the front. Others in the back carried circular seats as they moved."||18.12||

||Sloka 18.13||

काचित् रत्नमयीं स्थालीं पूर्णां पानस्य भामिनी।
दक्षिणा दक्षिणेनैव तदा जग्राह पाणिना॥18.13||

स॥काचित् दक्षिणा भामिनी रत्नमयीं पूर्णं पानस्य स्थलीं दक्षिणेनैव पाणिना जग्राह॥

॥Sloka meanings||

काचित् दक्षिणा भामिनी -
one courteous woman
रत्नमयीं -
a gem studded jar
पूर्णं पानस्य स्थलीं -
jar filled with wine
दक्षिणेनैव पाणिना जग्राह-
carried in her right hand only.

||Sloka summary||

"One courteous women carried a gem studded jar filled with wine in her right hand only." ||18.13||

||Sloka 18.14||

राजहंस प्रतीकाशं छत्रं पूर्णशशिप्रभम्।
सौवर्णदण्डमपरा गृहीत्वा पृष्ठतो ययौ॥18.14||

स॥ अपरा राजहंस प्रतीकाशं पूर्णशशिप्रभं सौवर्णदंडं छत्रं गृहीत्वा पृष्टतः ययौ॥

॥Sloka meanings||

अपरा राजहंस प्रतीकाशं -
resembling a royal swan
पूर्णशशिप्रभं -
bright like a full moon
सौवर्णदंडं छत्रं गृहीत्वा -
holding an umbrella with golden handle
अपरा पृष्टतः ययौ -
another one followed in the back

||Sloka summary||

"Another one bright like a full moon, resembling a royal swan carried an umbrella with golden handle." ||18.14||

||Sloka 18.15||

निद्रामद परीताक्ष्यो रावणस्योत्तमाः स्त्रियः।
अनुजग्मुः पतिं वीरं घनं विद्युल्लताइव॥18.15||

स॥ निद्रा मद परीताक्ष्यः रावणस्य उत्तमाः स्त्रियः विद्युल्लताः घनमिव वीरं पतिं अनुजग्मुः॥

॥Sloka meanings||

निद्रा मद परीताक्ष्यः -
With eyes dizzy with intoxication and sleep
रावणस्य उत्तमाः स्त्रियः -
Ravana's wives
विद्युल्लताः घनमिव-
like lightning following the dark clouds
वीरं पतिं अनुजग्मुः-
followed the heroic husband

||Sloka summary||

"With eyes dizzy with intoxication and sleep, Ravana's wives followed the heroic husband, like lightning followed the dark clouds." ||18.15||

||Sloka 18.16||

व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः समा मृदितवर्णकाः।
समागळित केशान्ताः सस्वेद वदनास्तथा॥18.16||

स॥ व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः समामृदितवर्णिकाः समागलित केशांताः तथा सस्वेद वदनाः (तं रावणं अनुजग्मुः)

||Sloka meanings||

व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः -
with disarrayed necklaces
समामृदितवर्णिकाः -
with smudged sandal paste and other unguents on the body
समागलित केशांताः -
with loosened hair
तथा सस्वेद वदनाः -
with sweat on their faces

||Sloka summary||

"With disarrayed necklaces , and smudged sandal paste and other unguents on the body, loosened hair, also with sweat on their faces (his wives followed him)"||18.16||

||Sloka 18.17||

घूर्णंत्यो मदशेषेण निद्रया च शुभाननाः।
स्वेदक्लिष्टाङ्ग कुसुमाः सुमाल्याकुलमूर्थजाः॥18.17||

स॥ मदशेषेण निद्रया च घूर्णन्त्यः स्वेदक्लिष्टांग कुसुमाः सुमाल्याकुलमूर्धजाः शुभाननाः (तं रावणं अनुजग्मुः)||

||Sloka meanings||

मदशेषेण निद्रया च घूर्णन्त्यः -
moving to and from being dizzy with left over intoxication as well as sleep
स्वेदक्लिष्टांग कुसुमाः -
with garlands of wilted flowers due to sweat from their limbs
सुमाल्याकुलमूर्धजाः शुभाननाः-
ladies adorned with beautiful flowers in their hair

||Sloka summary||

"The wives of Ravana adorned with beautiful flowers in their hair followed him, with garlands of wilted flowers due to sweat from their limbs. They were moving to and from being dizzy with left over intoxication as well as due to left over sleep." ||18.17||

||Sloka 18.18||

प्रयान्तं नैरृतपतिं नार्यो मदिरलोचनाः।
बहुमानाच्च कामाच्च प्रिया भार्या स्तमन्वयुः॥18.18||

स॥ मदिरलोचनाः प्रियाः भार्याः नार्यः बहुमानाच्च कामाच्च प्यांतं तं नैऋतपतिं अन्वयुः॥

॥Sloka meanings||

मदिरलोचनाः प्रियाः भार्याः -
drunken eyed dear wives
नार्यः बहुमानाच्च कामाच्च -
due to high regards and due to passion.
प्रयान्तंतं नैऋतपतिं नार्यः अन्वयुः -
ladies followed the king of Rakshasas moving ahead

||Sloka summary||

"The drunken eyed dear wives, and other ladies followed the king of Rakshasas due to passion and high regards."||18.18||

||Sloka 18.19||

स च कामपराधीनः पति स्तासां महाबलः।
सीतासक्त मना मम्दो मदाञ्चितगति र्बभौ॥18.19||

स॥ तासां पतिः महाबलः कामपराधीनः सीतासक्तमनाः सः च मंदः मदांचितगतिः बभौ॥

॥Sloka meanings||

तासां पतिः महाबलः -
their husband and powerful
कामपराधीनः सीतासक्तमनाः -
who is under the control of passion, with a mind lost on Sita.
सः च मंदः -
he was dull
मदांचितगतिः बभौ -
moved with measured steps

||Sloka summary||

"Their husband, the powerful and dull Ravana who is under the control of passion, with a mind lost on Sita and walked with measured steps slowly" ||18.19||

||Sloka 18.20||

ततः काञ्चीनिनादं च नूपुराणां निस्स्वनम्।
शुश्राव परमस्त्रीणां स कपिर्मारुतात्मजः॥18.20||

स॥ ततः मारुतात्मजः सः कपिः परमस्त्रीणां कांचीनिनादं नूपुराणां च निःस्वनं शुश्राव॥

॥Sloka meanings||

ततः मारुतात्मजः सः कपिः -
then that Vanara who is the son of wind god that Vanara
परमस्त्रीणां कांचीनिनादं -
the sounds of golden girdles of the wives
नूपुराणां च निःस्वनं शुश्राव-
sounds of the anklets too

||Sloka summary||

"Then the son of wind god that Vanara heard the sounds of golden girdles and small bells of their anklets."||18.20||

||Sloka 18.21||

तं चा प्रतिमकर्माणं अचिन्त्यबलपौरुषम्।
द्वारदेशमनुप्राप्तं ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः॥18.21||

स॥अप्रतिमकर्मणां अचिन्त्यबलपौरुषम् द्वारदेशं अनुप्राप्तं तं (रावणं) कपिः हनुमान् ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

अप्रतिमकर्मणां -
one who performed incomparable deeds
अचिन्त्यबलपौरुषम् -
one who has unimaginable strength and valor
द्वारदेशं अनुप्राप्तं -
one who reached the entrance
तं (रावणं) कपिः हनुमान् ददर्श -
that Ravana Hanuman , the Vanara saw

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman, the Vanara, saw that Ravana, who performed incomparable deeds, who has unimaginable strength and valor, who reached the entrance of that grove."||18.21||

||Sloka 18.22||

दीपिकाभिरनेकाभिः समन्तादवभासितम्।
गन्धतैलावसिक्ताभिः ध्रियमाणाभिरग्रतः॥18.22||

स॥ गन्धतैलावसिक्ताभिः अग्रतः ध्रियमाणाभिः अनेकाभिः दीपिकाभिः समन्तात् अवभासितम्॥

॥Sloka meanings||

अग्रतः ध्रियमाणाभिः - मुंदु तीसुकुपोबडुतुन्न
गन्धतैलावसिक्ताभिः - सुवासनलु कल तैलमुतो कूडिन
अनेकाभिः दीपिकाभिः - अनेक दीपमुलचेत
समन्तात् अवभासितम्- अंतटा भासिंपबड वेसिन
(रावणुनि हनुम चूसॆनु)

||Sloka summary||

"(Ravana) shining in the light of the fragrant oil lamps held in the front by many everywhere (was seen by Hanuma)." ||18.22||

"आ मुंदु तीसुकोबडुतुन्न सुवासनलु कल अनेक दीपमुल कांतिलो भासिस्तुन्न रावणुनि ( हनुम चूचॆनु)" ||18.22||

||Sloka 18.23-24||

कामदर्पमदैर्युतं जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम्।
समक्षमिव कंदर्पं अपविद्धशरासनम्॥18.23||

स॥ कामदर्पमदैः युक्तं जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम् अपविद्ढशरासनम् समक्षं कंदर्पं इव॥

॥Sloka meanings||

कामदर्पमदैः युक्तं -
काम दर्पमु मदमुतो कूडिन
जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम् -
ऎऱ्ऱनि वंकरगावुन्नकळ्ळुगल
अपविद्ढशरासनम् -
शरचापमुलु वदिलिन
समक्षं कंदर्पं इव-
साक्षात्तु मन्मथुनिवलॆ नुन्न
(रावणुनि हनुम चूचॆनु)

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman saw Ravana, endowed with lust pride and intoxication, possessed of long hot red eyes with his quiver and arrows set aside, looking like Manmatha himself."||18.23||

||Sloka 18.24||

मथितामृतफेनाभ मरजो वस्त्रमुत्तमम्।
सलील मनुकर्षंतं विमुक्तं सक्त मंगदे ||18.24||

स॥मथितामृतफेनाभं अरजः विमुक्तं अंगदे सक्तं उत्तमं वस्त्रं सलीलं अनुकर्षंतं (तं ददर्श)||

||Sloka meanings||

मथितामृतफेनाभं -
looking white like foam of the churned nectar
अरजः विमुक्तं अंगदे सक्तं -
the slipped upper cloth which was stuck in his armlet
उत्तमं वस्त्रं सलीलं अनुकर्षंतं-
sportively dragging that best cloth

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuma saw Ravana who was sportively dragging that best cloth, which was looking white like foam of the churned nectar, which slipped a little and was stuck in his armlet" ||18.24||

||Sloka 18.25||

तं पत्रविटपे लीनः पत्त्रपुष्पघनावृतः।
समीपमिव संक्रान्तं निध्यातु मुपचक्रमे॥18.25||

स॥पत्रविटपे लीनः पत्रपुष्पघनावृतः समीपं संक्रांतं मिव तं निध्यातुं उपचक्रमे॥

॥Sloka meanings||

पत्रविटपे लीनः -
hidden in the leaves on the branch
पत्रपुष्पघनावृतः -
covered with leaves and flowersन
समीपं सक्रांतं मिव -
the one coming nearer न
तं निध्यातुं उपचक्रमे -
scanned the identity of the one coming nearer

||Sloka summary||

"Covered with leaves and flowers, hidden in the leaves on the branch, Hanuman scanned the identity of the one coming nearer." ||18.25||

||Sloka 18.26||

अवेक्षमाणस्तु ततो ददर्श कपिकुङ्जरः |
रूपयौवनसंपन्ना रावणस्य वरस्त्रियः॥18.26||

स॥ ततः अवेक्षमाणः कपिकुंजरः रावणस्य रूपयौवनसंपन्नाः वरस्त्रियः ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

ततः अवेक्षमाणः कपिकुंजरः ददर्श -
the best of Vanaras who was looking carefully, then saw
रावणस्य वरस्त्रियः -
Ravana's best of women
रूपयौवनसंपन्नाः -
who are young and beautiful?

||Sloka summary||

"Then the best of Vanaras looking carefully saw the Ravana's chief women who are young and beautiful." ||18.26||

||Sloka 18.27||

ताभिः परिवृतो राजा सुरूपाभिर्महायशाः।
तन्मृगद्विजसंघुष्टं प्रविष्टः प्रमदावनम्॥18.27||

स॥ महायशाः राजा सुरूपाभिः ताभिः परिवृतः मृगद्विजसंघुष्टं तत् प्रमदावनं प्रविष्टः॥

॥Sloka meanings||

महायशाः राजा -
the famous king
सुरूपाभिः ताभिः परिवृतः -
surrounded by beautiful charming women
मृगद्विजसंघुष्टं -
echoing with sounds of beasts and birds
तत् प्रमदावनं प्रविष्टः -
entered that grove for women

||Sloka summary||

"The famous king surrounded by beautiful charming women entered the grove meant for women which echoed with sounds of beasts and birds." ||18.27||

||Sloka 18.28||

क्षीबो विचित्राभरणः शंङ्कुकर्णो महाबलः।
तेन विश्रवसः पुत्त्रः सदृष्टो राक्षसाधिपः॥18.28||

स॥ विश्रवसः पुत्रः क्षीबः विचित्राभरणः शंकुकर्णः महाबलः राक्षसाधिपः सः तेन दृष्टः॥

॥Sloka meanings||

विश्रवसः पुत्रः -
son of Visravasa
क्षीबः विचित्राभरणः -
excited by drinking, wearing wonderful ornaments,
शंकुकर्णः महाबलः -
with long tapering ears, the powerful
राक्षसाधिपः सः तेन दृष्टः -
king of Rakshasas was seen by Hanuman

||Sloka summary||

"The very powerful son of Visravasa, the king of Rakshasa excited by drinking, wearing wonderful ornaments, with long tapering ears, was seen by him. ||18.28||

||Sloka 18.29||

वृतः परमनारीभिः ताराभिरिव चन्द्रमाः।
तं ददर्श महातेजाः तेजोवन्तं महाकपिः॥18.29||

स॥ताराभिः (वृतः) चंद्रमा इव परमनारीभिः वृतःतेजोवंतं तं महातेजाः महाकपिः तं तेजोवंतं ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

ताराभिः (वृतः) चंद्रमा इव -
like the Moon surrounded by stars
परमनारीभिः वृतः -
surrounded by best of women
तेजोवंतं तं -
that splendid king of Rakshasas
महातेजाः महाकपिः ददर्श -
brilliant and great Hanuman

||Sloka summary||

"Surrounded by best of women, looking like the Moon surrounded by stars, the brilliant Hanuman saw that splendid king of Rakshasas."||18.29||

||Sloka 18.30||

रावणोऽयं महाबाहुः इति संचित्य वानरः।
अवप्लुतो महातेजा हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः॥18.30||

स॥ मारुतात्मजः वानरः महातेजाः हनुमान् अयं महाबाहुः रावण इति संचित्य अवप्लुतः ||

||Sloka meanings||

मारुतात्मजः वानरः -
Vanara, the son of wind god
महातेजाः हनुमान् -
powerful Hanuman
अयं महाबाहुः रावण इति -
' This one of strong arms is Ravana '
संचित्य अवप्लुतः -
thinking that , he came down

||Sloka summary||

"The powerful Hanuman, the son of wind god , thinking that "this one of strong arms is Ravana" came down." ||18.30||

||Sloka 18.31||

स तथाप्युग्रतेजाः सन्निर्धूतस्तस्य तेजसा।
पत्रगुह्यान्तरे सक्तो हानुमान् संवृतोऽभवत्॥18.31||

स॥ तथा उग्रतेजाः सः हनुमान् तस्य तेजसा निर्धूतः पत्रगुह्यांतरे सक्तः संवृतः अभवत्॥

॥Sloka meanings||

तथा उग्रतेजाः सः हनुमान् -
then Hanuman possessed of extraordinary strength
तस्य तेजसा निर्धूतः -
taken aback by the might of Ravana
पत्रगुह्यांतरे सक्तः -
concealed deep among the leaves
संवृतः अभवत् -
remained there..

||Sloka summary||

"Possessed of extraordinary strength Hanuman taken aback by the might of Ravana concealed deep in the leaves remained there." ||18.31||

||Sloka 18.32||

स तां असितकेशांतां सुश्रोणीं संहतस्तनीम्।
दिदृक्षु रसितापांगां उपावर्तत रावणः॥18.32||

स॥ तं असितकेशांतं सुश्रोणिं संहतस्तनीम् असितापांगां दिद्रुक्षुः सः रावणः उपावर्तत॥

॥Sloka meanings||

तं असितकेशांतं -
the dark-haired lady
सुश्रोणिं संहतस्तनीम् -
with beautiful hips, plump breasts
असितापांगां -
with dark side glances
सः रावणः दिद्रुक्षुः उपावर्तत -
that Ravana returned to the Ashoka grove

||Sloka summary||

"To look at the dark-haired lady , with beautiful hips, plump breasts and dark side glances that Ravana returned to the Ashoka grove." ||18.32||

This is the last Sloak of the Sarga.

The Sarga starts with the Poet saying, "किंचित् शेषा निशाभवत्"; meaning there by that "only a very little part of the night is left.

In the night with darkness covering everything, when the objects could not be seen with clarity, part of the night was left.

Appalacharyulu garu says, that night is also the story of a life time. .

Night is the time with darkness enveloping every object ,
and the object is not seen clearly. It is like ignorance covering true "Self" making it invisible.

When Ignorance does cover the mind, and makes the "Self" invisible, the discovery of "self" may not happen for many a life time.

After many a life time one may feel inclined towards Bhagavan on his own or under the tutelage of a teacher. Then his heart may hanker after the Bhagavan.

We hear the same thing in Gita,"बहूनां जन्मनां अंते.." (भग 7-03,20). After the end of many a lifetime, by the grace of God one may acquire a teacher of knowledge.

In that association with that teacher ,the preponderance of Rajo Tamo Gunas is destroyed and the Sattvic nature is enhanced or developed.

The brilliance of the moon lit night is that Sattvic nature. Then Sadhaka is on his search. Teacher too searches for his disciple. When this happens that is seen as a life time.

The life cycle of Sadhaka parallels Hanuma's search.

There are some more thoughts. Sadhaka with a burning desire for realization continues his search. Sita shows how one in separation with a burning desire may act.

In that state of separation from the Supreme being
there is a struggle between the mind covered by ignorance and the "Self". Unless one stands firm and has the blessings of a teacher, one may not attain that realization of Self.

In the process of a guru accepting a Sadhaka too, the determination of the Sadhaka is tested. Only then Sadhaka is accepted.

The dialogue of Ravana and Sita is like the struggle between the mind covered by ignorance and the "Self". After those fiery dialogs of Ravana and Sita, where in Sita stands her ground , then only we see Hanuma talking to Sita

Now the Night is over. The Search for Sita has been completed. The story forward has some more thoughts.

Thus ends the Sarga 18.

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये वाल्मीकीये
चतुर्विंशत् सहस्रिकायां संहितायाम्
श्रीमत्सुंदरकांडे अष्टादशस्सर्गः॥

॥ ओम् तत् सत् ||