Sundara Kanda 18

Chapter 18-1

Ravana’s arrival at Ashoka garden and Hanuma watching him

TadA viprEksha mAnasya vanam pushpita paadapam

Vichinvatascha VaidEhIm kincchit sheshA nishAbhavath !!18-1

Hanuma,  thus sitting on the tree branch,  was watching the Ashoka garden which was full of blossomed flowers.  Only few moments of the night was remaining at that time.

These nights are the different births a soul goes through. During the night an existing object appears as if it is not there. The birth that hides identity of a soul because of ignorance or lack of knowledge is equivalent to a night. After many such births, one gets an opportunity to search for the identity of soul and  one gets deeply involved in self realization. When such soul comes across an Acharya who can lead us in the right path, the soul gets  pious nature. That pious nature is a corollary to the full moon day. In those circumstances a devotee gets the right direction in self realization and an Acharya looks for such kind of souls. Hanuma is in that search now.

Hanuma’s search in Lanka started in the evening. When a little part of the night remained, that is in the early hours to sunrise, He could see mother Seeta.

The state in which mother Seeta is in at that time indicates the state of a soul that is undergoing birth and death cycle and finally would like to know the self and the God. The war between the soul and the mind in those circumstances is the argument that is exchanged between Seeta and Ravana. When a soul wins such an argument, he/she will be blessed by an Acharya. Hanuma will open the dialogue with Seeta, only after Seeta refuses  Ravana’s arguments.

At that time sunrays have come out of the clouds.

Shandanga vEda vidushAm krathu pravara yAjinAm

ShushrAva brahma ghOshAm  scha virAthrE brahmarakshasAm !! 18-2

Hanuma heard the sounds of vedic chants done by those Brahma Raakshas who are performing the daily morning abeinces.

Athaha mangalavAditrai shabdhai shrotra manOharaih

PrAbudhyata mahAbAhuh dashagrIvO mahAbalaha !! 18-3

At that time, Ravana, the one with strong arms, woke up as the musicians have played the auspicious music.

Vibudhyatu yadhAkAlam rAkshasEndraha pratApavAn

SrastamAlyAmbaradharO VaidEhIm  anvachintayat !! 18-4

Ravanas who was in a state in which his body is half covered with clothes and the garlands on his body are torned. Immediately after the rise, Ravana thought of Seeta.

Brisham niyukta stasyAm cha madanEna madOtkataha

Na sa tam rAksasaha kAmam shashA kAtmani gUhitam !! 18-5

S sarvAbharanaih yuktO bibhrah chriyah anuthamAm

TAm nagaih bahubhih jushtAm sarva pushpa palOpagaih !! 18-6

VritAm pushkarinIbhih scha nAnA pushpOpa shObhitAm

SadAmadaischa vihagair vichitrAm paramAdbhutAm !! 18-7

EehA mrigaih scha vividhaih jushtAm drishti manOharaih

VIdhIh samprEkshamAnah scha manikAnchana tOranAha !! 18-8

NAnA mriga ganA kIrnAm palaih prapatitaih vritAm

AshOka vanikAm Eva prAvishat santata drimAm !! 18-9

The lust filled Ravana immediately proceeded to see Seeta and entered into that wonderful Ashoka garden which was full of different varieties of  blossomed flowers, fruits and trees, and different animals.

AnganA shata mAtram tu tam vrajantam anuvrajat

MahEndram iva Paulastyam dEva gandharva yoshitah !! 18-10

Hundred ladies belonging to different demi gods and ladies belonging to Gandharvas followed the Ravana to the Ashoka garden.

DIpikAh kAnchanIh kAschit jahruh tatraha yoshitaha

VAlavya janahastAscha tAlavrintAni chAparAh !! 18-11

Chapter 18-2

KAnchanai: api bhringArai: jahruh salilam agrataha !

MandalAgran brisInchaiva grihyAnyAh prishtatho yayuh !! 18-12

KAchit ratnamayIm sthAlIm pUrnAm pAnasya bhAminI !

dakshinA dakshinE naiva tadA jagrAha pAnina !!18-13

RAja hamsa pratIkAsham cchatram pUrna shashi prabham!

Sauvarna dandam aparA grihItvaprishtatau yayau !! 18-14

NidrAmadaparItAkshyO RAvanasya uttamAh striyah!

Anujagmuh patim vIram ghanam vidyullathA iva !! 18-15

Some ladies followed RAvana with water filled KalashAams (made of Gold). Some other were carrying several drinks filled in silver vessels studded with jewels. One lady was holding a decorated, white umbrella on Ravana’s head and she was walking like an Swan. The wives of RAvana whos just got up from sleep followed him like the thunders follow the clouds.

VyAvidhahArakEyurAh samaA mridithavarnikAh !

samAgalitha kEshAntAh sa svEdavadanAh tadA !! 18-16

GhUrnantyO madashEshEna nidrayA cha shubhAnanAh !

slEdaklishtAngakusumAh sumAlya kula mUrdajAh !!18-17

PrayAntam nairutapatim nAryOh madiralOchanAh !

bahumAnA ccha kAmAccha priyA bhAryAh tam anvayah!! 18-18

The jewelry and different decorations on the bodies of the demoness, who followed RAvana, were dislocated form their original place. Their faces were filled with sweat and dirt as they just got up from the bed. All those are still in the sleepy mood because of the alcoholic drinks they had previous night.

Sa ccha kAmaparAdhInah patih tAsAm mahabalah !

SItAskta manA mandO madAnchitagatih babhau !! 18-19

RAvana was walking slowly, with thoughts filled with SIta and ego.

Tatah kAnchI ninAdam cha nUpurAnAm cha nissvanam !

shushrAva parama strInAm sa kapiH marutAtmajah !1 18-20

Hanuma who was sitting on the Shinshupa tree  also heard the beautiful sounds coming from the anklets and other jewelry of demoness.

Tam chApratimakarmAnam achintya bala paurusham !

dvAradEshamanuprAptam dadarsha HanUmAn kapiH !! 18-21

DIpikAbhih anEkAbhih samantAd avabhAsitam !

gandhatailAvasiktAbhih driyamAnAbhih agratah!!18-22

Hanuma had seen the powerful and valiant Raavana walking behind glowing lights and other vessels filled with perfumes and fragrant liquids.

KAmadarpanadaih yuktam jihmatAmrAya tEkshanam !

Samaksha miva kandarpam apavidhashArAsanam !! 18-23

MaditAmritaphEnAbhah arajOvastram uttamam !

salIla manukarshantam vimukatam saktam angadE !! 18-24

Raavana was wearing a white silk dress which was like the froth come out of the milk.  Hanuma has seen the Raavana adjusting his Angavastra in style.

Tam patravitapE lInah patrapushpaghanAvritah

samIpam iva sankrAntam nidhyAtum upachakramE !! 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.

AvEkshamAnastu tatO dadarsha kapi kunjarah !

rUpayauvana sampannA RAvanasya varastriyah !! 18-26

Thereafter Hanuma, the best among Vanaras looking in all directions saw best women of Ravana full of beauty and youth.

TAbhih parivritO rAjA surUpAbhih mahA yashAh!

Tnmrigadvija sangushtam pravishtah pramadAvanam !! 18-27

King of great fame, Ravana, together with those women with good appearance entered that garden resounded by animals and birds.

KshIbO vichitrAbharana shankukarnO mahabalah!

tEna vishravasah putra ssa drishtO rAkshasAdipah !! 18-28

Vritah parama nArIbhih tArAbhih iva chandramAh!

Tam dadarsha mahAtEjAha tEjOvantam mahAkapiH !! 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.

RAvanOyam mahAbAhuh iti sanchintya vAnarah !

avaplutO mahAtEjAh HanumAn  mArutAtmajah !! 18-30

Hanuma, the son of god of wind -Vanara  and of great brilliance,  thinking thus "This long armed one is Ravana",  and jumped down.

Sa tadAh pyugratEjA sannirdhUtah tasya tEjasA !

Patra guhyAntarE saktO HanumAn samvritObhavat !! 18-31

Hanuma, although having powerful energy,  was overshadowed by Ravana's brilliance and became rooted behind a group of leaves and was concealed.

Sa tAm asita kEshAntam sushrOnIm samhatastanIm !

Didrikshuh asitApAngAm upAvartata RAvanaha!! 18-32

That Ravana came near the tree, wishing to see charming, beautiful, black eyed  Seetha.