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VĀLMĪKI RĀMĀYAṆA · CHAPTER 18
सुन्दरकाण्डम् · सर्गः १८
Near dawn, Ravana wakes and comes to the ashoka grove with lamps, attendants, and royal ornaments.
An edition-specific reading with original English meanings. Source & reading notes
SCENE 01 · VERSES 1–32
Near dawn, Ravana wakes and comes to the ashoka grove with lamps, attendants, and royal ornaments.
तथा विप्रेक्षमाणस्य वनं पुष्पितपादपम् ।
tathā viprekṣamāṇasya vanaṃ puṣpitapādapam |
While he watched the grove of flowering trees
विचिन्वतश्च वैदेहीं किञ्चिच्छेषा निशाभवत् ॥
vicinvataśca vaidehīṃ kiñciccheṣā niśābhavat ||
and looked closely at Sita, only a little of the night remained.
षडंगवेदविदुषां क्रतुप्रवरयाजिनाम् ।
ṣaḍaṃgavedaviduṣāṃ kratupravarayājinām |
Late in the night he heard sacred recitations from brahma-rakshasas,
शुश्राव ब्रह्मघोषान् स विरात्रे ब्रह्मरक्षसाम् ॥
śuśrāva brahmaghoṣān sa virātre brahmarakṣasām ||
versed in the Veda and its six disciplines and performers of great sacrifices.
अथ मंगलवादित्रैः शब्दैः श्रोत्रमनोहरैः ।
atha maṃgalavāditraiḥ śabdaiḥ śrotramanoharaiḥ |
Then mighty-armed, powerful ten-headed Ravana
प्राबोध्यत महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवो महाबलः ॥
prābodhyata mahābāhurdaśagrīvo mahābalaḥ ||
was awakened by auspicious music pleasing to the ear.
विबुध्य तु महाभागो राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान् ।
vibudhya tu mahābhāgo rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān |
Awakening with garlands and garments disarranged,
स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरो वैदेहीमन्वचिन्तयत् ॥
srastamālyāmbaradharo vaidehīmanvacintayat ||
the powerful rakshasa lord began thinking of Sita.
भृशं नियुक्तस्तस्यां च मदनेन मदोत्कटः ।
bhṛśaṃ niyuktastasyāṃ ca madanena madotkaṭaḥ |
Intensely attached to her and excited by desire,
न तु तं राक्षसः कामं शशाकात्मनि गूहितुम् ॥
na tu taṃ rākṣasaḥ kāmaṃ śaśākātmani gūhitum ||
the rakshasa could not conceal that passion within himself.
स सर्वाभरणैर्युक्तो बिभ्रच्छ्रियमनुत्तमाम् ।
sa sarvābharaṇairyukto bibhracchriyamanuttamām |
Wearing all his ornaments and displaying incomparable splendor,
तां नगैर्विविधैर्जुष्टां सर्वपुष्पफलोपगैः ॥
tāṃ nagairvividhairjuṣṭāṃ sarvapuṣpaphalopagaiḥ ||
he approached the grove filled with many kinds of flowering and fruit-bearing trees—
वृतां पुष्करिणीभिश्च नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम् ।
vṛtāṃ puṣkariṇībhiśca nānāpuṣpopaśobhitām |
surrounded by lotus pools and adorned with many blossoms,
सदा मत्तैश्च विहगैर्विचित्रां परमाद्भुतैः ॥
sadā mattaiśca vihagairvicitrāṃ paramādbhutaiḥ ||
made wonderful by varied, continually delighted birds—
ईहामृगैश्च विविधैर्वृतां दृष्टिमनोहरैः ।
īhāmṛgaiśca vividhairvṛtāṃ dṛṣṭimanoharaiḥ |
filled with many marvelous animals delightful to look upon;
वीथीः सम्प्रेक्षमाणश्च मणिकाञ्चनतोरणाम् ॥
vīthīḥ samprekṣamāṇaśca maṇikāñcanatoraṇām ||
he examined the paths and jeweled golden archways—
नानामृगगणाकीर्णां फलैः प्रपतितैर्वृताम् ।
nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇāṃ phalaiḥ prapatitairvṛtām |
and entered the densely wooded ashoka grove,
अशोकवनिकामेव प्राविशत् संततद्रुमाम् ॥
aśokavanikāmeva prāviśat saṃtatadrumām ||
scattered with fallen fruits and many herds of animals.
अंगनाः शतमात्रं तु तं व्रजन्तमनुव्रजन् ।
aṃganāḥ śatamātraṃ tu taṃ vrajantamanuvrajan |
About a hundred women followed the descendant of Pulastya,
महेन्द्रमिव पौलस्त्यं देवगन्धर्वयोषितः ॥
mahendramiva paulastyaṃ devagandharvayoṣitaḥ ||
as celestial and gandharva women follow Indra.
दीपिकाः काञ्चनीः काश्चिज्जगृहुस्तत्र योषितः ।
dīpikāḥ kāñcanīḥ kāścijjagṛhustatra yoṣitaḥ |
Some women carried golden lamps,
वालव्यजनहस्ताश्च तालवृन्तानि चापराः ॥
vālavyajanahastāśca tālavṛntāni cāparāḥ ||
others held yak-tail whisks or palm-leaf fans.
काञ्चनैश्चैव भृंगारैर्जह्रुः सलिलमग्रतः ।
kāñcanaiścaiva bhṛṃgārairjahruḥ salilamagrataḥ |
Some carried water before him in golden pitchers;
मण्डलाग्रा बृसीश्चैव गृह्यान्याः पृष्ठतो ययुः ॥
maṇḍalāgrā bṛsīścaiva gṛhyānyāḥ pṛṣṭhato yayuḥ ||
others followed with swords and cushions.
काचिद् रत्नमयीं पात्रीं पूर्णां पानस्य भ्राजतीम् ।
kācid ratnamayīṃ pātrīṃ pūrṇāṃ pānasya bhrājatīm |
One skillful woman held in her right hand
दक्षिणा दक्षिणेनैव तदा जग्राह पाणिना ॥
dakṣiṇā dakṣiṇenaiva tadā jagrāha pāṇinā ||
a shining jeweled vessel filled with drink.
राजहंसप्रतीकाशं छत्रं पूर्णशशिप्रभम् ।
rājahaṃsapratīkāśaṃ chatraṃ pūrṇaśaśiprabham |
Another followed carrying a golden-shafted parasol,
सौवर्णदण्डमपरा गृहीत्वा पृष्ठतो ययौ ॥
sauvarṇadaṇḍamaparā gṛhītvā pṛṣṭhato yayau ||
white as a royal swan and bright as the full moon.
निद्रामदपरीताक्ष्यो रावणस्योत्तमस्त्रियः ।
nidrāmadaparītākṣyo rāvaṇasyottamastriyaḥ |
With eyes still affected by sleep and intoxication, Ravana's fine women
अनुजग्मुः पतिं वीरं घनं विद्युल्लता इव ॥
anujagmuḥ patiṃ vīraṃ ghanaṃ vidyullatā iva ||
followed their heroic husband like streaks of lightning around a cloud.
व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः समामृदितवर्णकाः ।
vyāviddhahārakeyūrāḥ samāmṛditavarṇakāḥ |
Their necklaces and armlets were displaced, their cosmetics rubbed away,
समागलितकेशान्ताः सस्वेदवदनास्तथा ॥
samāgalitakeśāntāḥ sasvedavadanāstathā ||
their hair loosened, and their faces damp with perspiration.
घूर्णन्त्यो मदशेषेण निद्रया च शुभाननाः ।
ghūrṇantyo madaśeṣeṇa nidrayā ca śubhānanāḥ |
The lovely-faced women swayed from lingering drink and sleep;
स्वेदक्लिष्टांगकुसुमाः समाल्याकुलमूर्धजाः ॥
svedakliṣṭāṃgakusumāḥ samālyākulamūrdhajāḥ ||
flowers upon their bodies were wilted by sweat, and garlands tangled in their hair.
प्रयान्तं नैर्ऋतपतिं नार्यो मदिरलोचनाः ।
prayāntaṃ nairṛtapatiṃ nāryo madiralocanāḥ |
The dreamy-eyed women, his cherished wives, followed
बहुमानाच्च कामाच्च प्रियभार्यास्तमन्वयुः ॥
bahumānācca kāmācca priyabhāryāstamanvayuḥ ||
the lord of rakshasas out of esteem and affection.
स च कामपराधीनः पतिस्तासां महाबलः ।
sa ca kāmaparādhīnaḥ patistāsāṃ mahābalaḥ |
Their powerful husband, however, was ruled by desire;
सीतासक्तमना मन्दो मन्दाञ्चितगतिर्बभौ ॥
sītāsaktamanā mando mandāñcitagatirbabhau ||
his mind fixed on Sita, he moved slowly with a languid gait.
ततः काञ्चीनिनादं च नूपुराणां च निःस्वनम् ।
tataḥ kāñcīninādaṃ ca nūpurāṇāṃ ca niḥsvanam |
Then the vanara, son of the Wind, heard
शुश्राव परमस्त्रीणां कपिर्मारुतनन्दनः ॥
śuśrāva paramastrīṇāṃ kapirmārutanandanaḥ ||
the tinkling of the noble women's girdles and anklets.
तं चाप्रतिमकर्माणमचिन्त्यबलपौरुषम् ।
taṃ cāpratimakarmāṇamacintyabalapauruṣam |
Hanuman saw that doer of extraordinary deeds, of unimaginable strength,
द्वारदेशमनुप्राप्तं ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः ॥
dvāradeśamanuprāptaṃ dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ ||
arriving at the garden entrance.
दीपिकाभिरनेकाभिः समन्तादवभासितम् ।
dīpikābhiranekābhiḥ samantādavabhāsitam |
Many lamps filled with fragrant oil, carried before him,
गन्धतैलावसिक्ताभिर्ध्रियमाणाभिरग्रतः ॥
gandhatailāvasiktābhirdhriyamāṇābhiragrataḥ ||
illuminated him on every side.
कामदर्पमदैर्युक्तं जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम् ।
kāmadarpamadairyuktaṃ jihmatāmrāyatekṣaṇam |
Filled with desire, pride, and intoxication, with long, sidelong, coppery eyes,
समक्षमिव कंदर्पमपविद्धशरासनम् ॥
samakṣamiva kaṃdarpamapaviddhaśarāsanam ||
he resembled the god of Love himself with his bow laid aside.
मथितामृतफेनाभमरजोवस्त्रमुत्तमम् ।
mathitāmṛtaphenābhamarajovastramuttamam |
He drew down his fine, unstained garment, white as churned nectar's foam,
सपुष्पमवकर्षन्तं विमुक्तं सक्तमंगदे ॥
sapuṣpamavakarṣantaṃ vimuktaṃ saktamaṃgade ||
which had slipped and caught upon his armlet together with flowers.
तं पत्रविटपे लीनः पत्रपुष्पशतावृतः ।
taṃ patraviṭape līnaḥ patrapuṣpaśatāvṛtaḥ |
Hidden in the leafy branches beneath hundreds of leaves and flowers,
समीपमुपसंक्रान्तं विज्ञातुमुपचक्रमे ॥
samīpamupasaṃkrāntaṃ vijñātumupacakrame ||
Hanuman began to study the approaching figure.
अवेक्षमाणस्तु तदा ददर्श कपिकुञ्जरः ।
avekṣamāṇastu tadā dadarśa kapikuñjaraḥ |
As he watched, the foremost vanara also saw
रूपयौवनसम्पन्ना रावणस्य वरस्त्रियः ॥
rūpayauvanasampannā rāvaṇasya varastriyaḥ ||
Ravana's lovely wives, endowed with beauty and youth.
ताभिः परिवृतो राजा सुरूपाभिर्महायशाः ।
tābhiḥ parivṛto rājā surūpābhirmahāyaśāḥ |
Surrounded by those beautiful women, the renowned king
तन्मृगद्विजसंघुष्टं प्रविष्टः प्रमदावनम् ॥
tanmṛgadvijasaṃghuṣṭaṃ praviṣṭaḥ pramadāvanam ||
entered the pleasure grove resounding with animals and birds.
क्षीबो विचित्राभरणः शङ्कुकर्णो महाबलः ।
kṣībo vicitrābharaṇaḥ śaṅkukarṇo mahābalaḥ |
Hanuman saw Vishravas's son, the rakshasa lord,
तेन विश्रवसः पुत्रः स दृष्टो राक्षसाधिपः ॥
tena viśravasaḥ putraḥ sa dṛṣṭo rākṣasādhipaḥ ||
intoxicated, strongly built, pointed-eared, and wearing varied ornaments.
वृतः परमनारीभिस्ताराभिरिव चन्द्रमाः ।
vṛtaḥ paramanārībhistārābhiriva candramāḥ |
The radiant great vanara saw the radiant ruler
तं ददर्श महातेजास्तेजोवन्तं महाकपिः ॥
taṃ dadarśa mahātejāstejovantaṃ mahākapiḥ ||
surrounded by lovely women like the moon by stars.
रावणोऽयं महाबाहुरिति संचिन्त्य वानरः ।
rāvaṇo’yaṃ mahābāhuriti saṃcintya vānaraḥ |
'This is mighty-armed Ravana,' the vanara reflected;
सोऽयमेव पुरा शेते पुरमध्ये गृहोत्तमे ।
so’yameva purā śete puramadhye gṛhottame |
'this is the very man who slept earlier in the great house within the city.'
अवप्लुतो महातेजा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥
avapluto mahātejā hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ ||
Radiant Hanuman, son of the Wind, shifted his position.
स तथाप्युग्रतेजाः स निर्धूतस्तस्य तेजसा ।
sa tathāpyugratejāḥ sa nirdhūtastasya tejasā |
Though himself fiercely radiant, he was struck by Ravana's brilliance;
पत्रे गुह्यान्तरे सक्तो मतिमान् संवृतोऽभवत् ॥
patre guhyāntare sakto matimān saṃvṛto’bhavat ||
the thoughtful one drew deeper into the leaves and remained hidden.
स तामसितकेशान्तां सुश्रोणीं संहतस्तनीम् ।
sa tāmasitakeśāntāṃ suśroṇīṃ saṃhatastanīm |
Ravana approached, wishing to see the dark-eyed woman
दिदृक्षुरसितापांगीमुपावर्तत रावणः ॥
didṛkṣurasitāpāṃgīmupāvartata rāvaṇaḥ ||
with beautiful dark hair and a graceful figure.
CHAPTER 18 COMPLETE
Hanuman stays concealed as Ravana approaches Sita.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kanda, chapter 18. This reading follows Sanskrit Wikisource revision 354236, with all 32 numbered verses. Verse divisions and wording vary between editions.
The Sanskrit is preserved with normalized display spacing and line breaks. Some sentences continue across verse boundaries; the English follows that continuity. A yojana is a traditional distance unit, retained without assigning a modern measurement. Shape-changing and celestial beings belong to the epic’s sacred narrative.
English line senses and short meanings are original AI-assisted DHIH renderings checked against this Sanskrit reading; they are not a word-for-word grammatical commentary or a claim of human scholarly certification. Roman transliteration is generated mechanically in IAST. Names may also appear in familiar English spellings.
Sanskrit transcription credit: Wikisource contributors, revision history. The adapted reading text and DHIH English on this chapter page are offered under CC BY-SA 4.0. The ancient Sanskrit work is in the public domain. Illustrations are separately commissioned AI-generated DHIH artwork.
Historical comparison: M. N. Dutt’s Ramayana, volume II, a public-domain translation, was consulted for narrative context. The English displayed here is a fresh rendering of the pinned Sanskrit, not a reproduction of that translation.
The chapter portrays possessive desire and intoxication. Ravana’s luxury and power do not justify his treatment of Sita. Audio will be added only when suitable recording permissions are available.