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[Ravana comes to see Sita.]

tathā viprēkṣyamāṇasya vanaṅ puṣpitapādapam.

vicinvataśca vaidēhīṅ kiṅcicchēṣā niśā.bhavat৷৷5.18.1৷৷


puṣpitapādapam flowering trees, vanam grove, tathā likewise, viprēkṣyamāṇasya of the observer, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, vicinvataśca while searching, niśā night, kiñcicchēṣā a small part, abhavat was left.

The night came to a close while Hanuman went searching and looking for Sita at Ashoka grove full of flowering trees.
ṣaḍaṅgavēdaviduṣāṅ kratupravarayājinām.

śuśrāva brahmaghōṣāṅśca sa virātrē brahmarakṣasām৷৷5.18.2৷৷


saḥ he, virātrē at the end of the night, ṣaḍaṅgavēdaviduṣām of those who were knowledgeable of Vedas and its six auxillary branches of sciences, kratupravarayājinām those who were experts in performing exalted sacrificial ceremonies, brahmarakṣasām of brahmins among demons, brahmaghōṣān sounds of Vedas, śuśrāva heard.

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 well-versed in performing exalted sacrificial ceremonies were heard.
atha maṅgalavāditraśabdaiḥ śrutimanōharaiḥ.

prābudhyata mahābāhurdaśagrīvō mahābalaḥ৷৷5.18.3৷৷


atha at that time, mahābāhuḥ strong-armed, mahābalaḥ powerful, daśagrīvaḥ ten-necked one, śrutimanōharaiḥ with sounds delighting ears, maṅgalavāditraśabdai: with auspicious sounds of musical instruments, prābudhyata was awakened.

By that time the strong-armed, powerful, ten-necked Ravana was awakened by the delightful sounds of auspicious musical instruments.
vibudhyatu yathākālaṅ rākṣasēndraḥ pratāpavān.

srastamālyāmbaradharō vaidēhīmanvacintayat৷৷5.18.4৷৷


pratāpavān chivalrous person, rākṣasēndraḥ lord of demons, yathākālam at the usual time, vibudhya after waking , srastamālyāmbaradharaḥ with disarrayed garland and raiment, vaidēhīm of Vaidehi, anvacintayat thought.

The chivalrous lord of demons woke up as usual.His raiment and garland were still in disarray and he thought of Vaidehi.
bhṛśaṅ niyuktastasyāṅ ca madanēna madōtkaṭaḥ.

na sa taṅ rākṣasaḥ kāmaṅ śaśākātmani gūhitum৷৷5.18.5৷৷


tasyāṅ at her, madanēna on account of his passion, bhṛśam exceedingly, niyuktaḥ gripped, madōtkaṭaḥ overwhelmed with intoxication, saḥ he, rākṣasaḥ demon, taṅ kāmam his passion, ātmani in himself, gūhitum to hide, na śaśāka was not able.

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 sarvābharaṇairyuktō bibhracchriyamanuttamām.

tāṅ nagairbahubhirjuṣṭāṅ sarvapuṣpaphalōpagaiḥ৷৷5.18.6৷৷


sarvābharaṇaiḥ with all ornaments, yuktaḥ adorned with, anuttamām excellent, śriyam splendour, bibhrat hearing, saḥ he, sarvapuṣpaphalōpagaiḥ filled with all kinds of flowers and fruits, bahubhiḥ with many, nagaiḥ with trees, juṣṭām flourishing, tām such.

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.
vṛtāṅ puṣkariṇībhiśca nānāpuṣpōpaśōbhitām.

sadā madaiśca vihagairvicitrāṅ paramādbhutām৷৷5.18.7৷৷


puṣkariṇībhiḥ with ponds, vṛtām covered, nānāpuṣpōpaśōbhitām beautiful with different kinds of flowers, sadā madaiḥ always elated, vihagaiḥ with birds, vicitrām colourful, paramādbhutām very wonderful.

Ponds covered with a variety of beautiful flowers and colourful birds always cheerful looked very wonderful.
īhāmṛgaiśca vividhairjuṣṭāṅ dṛṣṭimanōharaiḥ.

vīdhīḥ saṅprēkṣamāṇaśca maṇikāñcanatōraṇāḥ৷৷5.18.8৷৷

nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇāṅ phalaiḥ prapatitairvṛtām.

aśōkavanikāmēva prāviśatsaṅtatadrumām৷৷5.18.9৷৷


maṇikāñcanatōraṇāḥ gateways ornamented with gold and gems, vīthīḥ pathways, samprēkṣamāṇaśca observing, dṛṣṭimanōharaiḥ with those pleasant to see, vividhaiḥ with several, īhāmṛgaiśca with wolves, juṣṭām occupies (with pleasure), nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇām filled with several kinds of animals herds, prapatitaiḥ dropped from the trees, phalaiḥ with fruits, vṛtām surrounded, santatadrumām filled with a long stretch trees, aśōkavanikāmēva into the Ashoka garden, prāviśat entered.

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.
aṅganāśatamātraṅ tu taṅ vrajantamanuvrajat.

mahēndramiva paulastyaṅ dēvagandharvayōṣitaḥ৷৷5.18.10৷৷


vrajantam while sauntering, tam him, paulastyam Poulastya, aṅganāśatamātram only a hundred maidens, mahēndram Mahendra, dēvagandharvayōṣitaḥ females of gods and gandharvas, anuvrajat were following.

Ravana, son of sage Paulasti, was followed by a hundred women, just as Indra is trailed by the females of gods and gandharvas.
dīpikāḥ kāñcanīḥ kāścijjagṛhustatra yōṣitaḥ.

vālavyajanahastāśca tālavṛntāni cāparāḥ৷৷5.18.11৷৷


tatra there, kāścit a few, yōṣitaḥ women, kāñcanīḥ golden, dīpikāḥ lamps, jagṛhu held, aparāḥ others, tālavṛntāni plam-leaf fans, jagṛhuḥ were holding, vālavyajana hastāśca some women held fans of the hair of yak-tail.

Some women carried golden lamps, some held yalk tail fans in their hands while others bore palm-leaf fans.
kāñcanairapi bhṛṅgārairjahruḥ salilamagrataḥ.

maṇḍalāgrān bṛsīścāpi gṛhyānyāḥ pṛṣṭhatō yayuḥ৷৷5.18.12৷৷


kāñcanaiḥ golden, bhṛṅgāraiḥ pitchers, agrataḥ ahead of him, salilam water, jahruḥ they carried, anyāḥ others, maṇḍalāgrā: circular, bṛsī: ca api couches (rolls of twisted grass used as seats), gṛhya by holding, pṛṣṭhataḥ behind, yayuḥ moved.

Some moved ahead of him carrying water in golden pitchers. Others followed him carrying circular couches (to be used as seats).
kācidratnamayīṅ sthālīṅ pūrṇāṅ pānasya bhāminī.

dakṣiṇā dakṣiṇēnaiva tadā jagrāha pāṇinā৷৷5.18.13৷৷


kācit one, bhāminī a glowing lady, dakṣiṇā a compassionate lady, ratnamayīm bejewelled, pūrṇām filled completely, pānasya wine, sthālīm jar, dakṣiṇēnaiva pāṇinā with her right hand only, jagrāha carried.

One glorious and compassionate lady carried in her right hand a gem-studded jar filled with wine.
rājahaṅsapratīkāśaṅ chatraṅ pūrṇaśaśiprabham.

sauvarṇadaṇḍamaparā gṛhītvā pṛṣṭhatō yayau৷৷5.18.14৷৷


aparā another lady, rājahaṅsapratīkāśam resembling a royal swan, pūrṇaśaśiprabham bright like full-moon, sauvarṇadaṇḍam having a golden handle, chatram umbrella, gṛhītvā taking, pṛṣṭhataḥ behind, yayau went.

Another she-demon moved behind him holding an umbrella with a golden handle which was white like a royal swan and bright like the full-moon.
nidrāmadaparītākṣyō rāvaṇasyōttamāḥ striyaḥ.

anujagmuḥ patiṅ vīraṅ ghanaṅ vidyullatā iva৷৷5.18.15৷৷


nidrāmadaparītākṣyaḥ with eyes dizzy with sleep and intoxication, rāvaṇasya Ravana's, uttamāḥ prime, striyaḥ wives, vidyullatāḥ like streaks of lightning, ghanamiva like the the cloud, vīram heroic, patim husband, anujagmuḥ followed.

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.)
vyāviddhahārakēyūrāḥ samāmṛditavarṇakāḥ.

samāgaḷitakēśāntāssasvēdavadanāstathā৷৷5.18.16৷৷

ghūrṇantyō madaśēṣēṇa nidrayā ca śubhānanāḥ.

svēdakliṣṭāṅgakusumāssumālyākulamūrdhajāḥ৷৷5.18.17৷৷

prayāntaṅ naiṛtapatiṅ nāryō madiralōcanāḥ.

bahumānācca kāmācca priyā bhāryāstamanvayuḥ৷৷5.18.18৷৷


vyāviddhahārakēyūrāḥ with necklaces and armlets disarrayed, samāmṛditavarṇakāḥ with smudged sandal paste and other unguents on the body, samāgalitakēśāntāḥ with loosened hair, tathā likewise, sasvēdavadanāḥ with sweat on the faces, madaśēṣēṇa dizzy with left-over intoxication, nidrayā ca and also due to sleep, ghūrṇantyaḥ moving to and fro, svēdakliṣṭāṅgakusumāḥ due to wilting of flowers by the sweat on their limbs, sumālyākulamūrdhajāḥ adorned with beautiful flowers in their hair, madiralōcanāḥ drunken-eyed, priyāḥ dear, bhāryāḥ wives, nāryaḥ ladies, bahumānācca due to high regard, kāmācca and due to passion, prayāntam as he advanced, tam him, naiṛtapatim the lord of demons, anvayuḥ followed.

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 left-over 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: patistāsāṅ mahābalaḥ.

sītāsaktamanā mandō mandāñcitagatirbabhau৷৷5.18.19৷৷


tāsām their, patiḥ husband, mahābalaḥ powerful, kāmaparādhīnaḥ under the control of passion, sa ca and he, mandaḥ dull, sītāsaktamanāḥ absorbed in the thoughts of Sita, mandāñcitagatiḥ walked slowly with measured steps, babhau became.

Their husband, powerful Ravana under the control of passion looking dull, absorbed in the thoughts of Sita walked slowly as though counting his steps.
tataḥ kāñcīninādaṅ ca nūpurāṇāṅ ca nisvanam.

śuśrāva paramastrīṇāṅ sa kapirmārutātmajaḥ৷৷5.18.20৷৷


tataḥ then, mārutātmajaḥ son of the Wind-god, saḥ kapiḥ that vanara, paramastrīṇām of those chief wives, kāñcīninādaṅ ca the sound of golden girdles with small bells, nūpurāṇām of their anklets, nisvanaṅ ca sound, śuśrāva heard.

Then Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, heard their jingling golden girdles and anklets.
taṅ cāpratimakarmāṇamacintyabalapauruṣam.

dvāradēśamanuprāptaṅ dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ৷৷5.18.21৷৷


kapiḥ vanara, hanumān Hanuman, apratimakarmāṇam one who does incomparable deeds, acintyabalapauruṣam a hero of unimaginable strength and valour, dvāradēśam the entrance, anuprāptam reached, taṅ ca him, dadarśa saw.

Then Hanuman, the Vanara saw Ravana of extraordinary deeds, and of unimaginable strength and valour at the entrance (of Ashoka garden)
dīpikābhiranēkābhiḥ samantādavabhāsitam.

gandhatailāvasiktābhirdhriyamāṇābhiragrataḥ৷৷5.18.22৷৷


gandhatailāvasiktābhiḥ wet with fragrant oil, agrataḥ in front, dhriyamāṇābhiḥ held, anēkābhiḥ by many, dīpikābhiḥ with lamps, samantāt everywhere, avabhāsitam was shining.

Hanuman saw him in the glow of lamps wet with fragrant oil carried by many she-demons all over.
kāmadarpamadairyuktaṅ jihmatāmrāyatēkṣaṇam.

samakṣamiva kandarpamapaviddhaśarāsanam৷৷5.18.23৷৷


kāmadarpamadaiḥ by lust, pride and intoxication, yuktam endowed, jihmatāmrāyatēkṣaṇam possesed of
long curved blood-shot eyes, apaviddhaśarāsanam who set aside his quiver, samakṣam directly, kandarpamiva like god of love.

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.
mathitāmṛtaphēnābhamarajōvastramuttamam.

salīlamanukarṣantaṅ vimuktaṅ saktamaṅgadē৷৷5.18.24৷৷


mathitāmṛtaphēnābham looking like the foam of churned nectar, arajaḥ without any dust, vimuktam slipped, aṅgadē in his armlet, saktam stuck, uttamam best, vastram cloth, salīlam sportively, anukarṣantam dragging.

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.
taṅ patraviṭapē līnaḥ patrapuṣpaghanāvṛtaḥ.

samīpamiva saṅkrāntaṅ nidhyātumupacakramē৷৷5.18.25৷৷


samīpam close by, saṅkrāntamiva drawn nearer, tam him, patraviṭapē on a branch covered with leaves, līnaḥ concealed, patrapuṣpaghanāvṛtaḥ thickly covered with leaves and flowers, nidhyātum to scan the identity, upacakramē started.

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.
avēkṣamāṇastu tatō dadarśa kapikuñjaraḥ.

rūpayauvanasampannā rāvaṇasya varastriyaḥ৷৷5.18.26৷৷


tataḥ then, kapikuñjaraḥ leader of the monkeys, avēkṣamāṇaḥ while looking carefully, rāvaṇasya Ravana's, rūpayauvanasampannāḥ endowed with youth and beauty, varastriyaḥ chief wives, dadarśa saw.

The leader of the monkeys started gazing at the chief wives of Ravana endowed with youth and beauty৷৷
tābhiḥ parivṛtō rājā surūpābhirmahāyaśāḥ.

tanmṛgadvijasaṅghuṣṭaṅ praviṣṭaḥ pramadāvanam৷৷5.18.27৷৷


mahāyaśāḥ glorious one, rājā king, surūpābhiḥ with charming ones, tābhiḥ with those women, parivṛtaḥ surrounded, mṛgadvijasaṅghuṣṭam echoed with sounds of beasts and birds, tat that, pramadāvanam grove for women, praviṣṭaḥ entered.

Surrounded by beauties, the glorious king entered the grove meant for women, reverberating with the sounds of beasts and birds.
kṣībō vicitrābharaṇaḥ śaṅkukarṇō mahābalaḥ.

tēna viśravasaḥ putraḥ sa dṛṣṭō rākṣasādhipaḥ৷৷5.18.28৷৷

vṛtaḥ paramanārībhistārābhiriva candramāḥ.

taṅ dadarśa mahātējāstējōvantaṅ mahākapiḥ৷৷5.18.29৷৷


kṣībaḥ excited by drinking, vicitrābharaṇaḥ wore wonderful ornaments, śaṅkukarṇaḥ with long tapering ears, viśravasaḥ of Visravas, putraḥ son, tārābhiḥ with stars, candramāḥ iva like the Moon, paramanārībhiḥ with damsels, vṛtaḥ surrounded, saḥ he, rākṣasādhipaḥ king of demons, tēna by him, dṛṣṭaḥ seen, mahātējāḥ brilliant, mahākapiḥ great vanara, tējōvantam splendid, tam him, dadarśē saw.

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.
rāvaṇō.yaṅ mahābāhuriti sañcintya vānaraḥ.

avaplutō mahātējā hanumānmārutātmajaḥ৷৷5.18.30৷৷


mārutātmajaḥ son of the Wind-god, vānaraḥ vanara, mahātējāḥ brilliant one, hanumān Hanuman, ayam this, mahābāhuḥ strong-armed, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, iti this, sañcintya having thought, avaplutaḥ got down.

The brilliant vanara (Hanuman), son of the Wind-god recognising the strong-armed Ravana got down a little, saying 'This is truly the strong-armed Ravana.'
sa tathāpyugratējāḥ sannirdhūtastasya tējasā.

patraguhyāntarē saktō hanumān saṅvṛtō.bhavat৷৷5.18.31৷৷


tathā such, ugratējāḥ possessed of extraordinary energy, saḥ he, hanumān Hanuman, tasya his, tējasā by the might, nirdhūtaḥ taken aback, patraguhyāntarē deep in the leaves, saktaḥ concealed, saṅvṛtaḥ covered, abhavat remained there.

Hanuman, possessed of extraordinary energy, was taken aback at the might of Ravana. He remained hiding covered over with leaves.
sa tāmasitakēśāntāṅ suśrōṇīṅ saṅhatastnīm.

didṛkṣurasitāpāṅgāmupāvartata rāvaṇaḥ৷৷5.18.32৷৷


saḥ he, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, asitakēśāntām dark-haired lady, suśrōṇīm a lady of beautiful hips, saṅhatastnīm a lady of plump breasts, asitāpāṅgām with dark side glances, tām her, didṛkṣuḥ desiring to see, upāvartata returned

With the desire to see Sita endowed with black hair, beautiful hips, plump breasts and dark side-glances, Ravana returned (to Ashokavana).
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē aṣṭādaśassargaḥ.
Thus ends the eighteenth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.