Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 23
लङ्कादर्शनं तथा रात्रौ सूक्ष्मरूपेण प्रवेशोपायचिन्तनम्
Vision of Lanka and Strategy for Nocturnal Entry
कैलासशिखरप्रख्यामालिखन्तीमिवाम्बरम्।डीयमानामिवाकाशमुच्छ्रितैर्भवनोत्तमैः।।।।सम्पूर्णां राक्षसैर्घोरैर्नागैर्भोगवतीमिव।अचिन्त्यां सुकृतां स्पष्टां कुबेराध्युषितां पुरा।।।।दंष्ट्रिभिर्बहुभिः शूरैः शूलपट्टसपाणिभिः।रक्षितां राक्षसैर्घोरैर्गुहामाशीविषैरिव।।।।तस्याश्च महतीं गुप्तिं सागरं च निरीक्ष्य सः।रावणं च रिपुं घोरं चिन्तयामास वानरः।।।।
kailāsaśikharaprakhyām ālikhantīm ivāmbaram | ḍīyamānām ivākāśam ucchritair bhavanottamaiḥ ||
sampūrṇāṃ rākṣasair ghorair nāgair bhogavatīm iva | acintyāṃ sukṛtāṃ spaṣṭāṃ kuberādhyuṣitāṃ purā ||
daṃṣṭribhir bahubhiḥ śūraiḥ śūlapaṭṭasapāṇibhiḥ | rakṣitāṃ rākṣasair ghorair guhām āśīviṣair iva ||
tasyāś ca mahatīṃ guptiṃ sāgaraṃ ca nirīkṣya saḥ | rāvaṇaṃ ca ripuṃ ghoraṃ cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ ||
He observed Laṅkā, like a peak of Kailāsa, seeming to scrape the sky, her finest mansions rising as though in flight. She was packed with dreadful rākṣasas and nāgas, like Bhogavatī; inconceivably and expertly built, once inhabited by Kubera. Guarded by fierce rākṣasas—many-fanged heroes holding tridents and spears—she looked like a cave protected by venomous serpents. Seeing her massive security and the surrounding ocean, the vānara began to think upon Rāvaṇa, the terrifying enemy.
Observing Lanka that resembled mount Kailas, with sky scrapers appearing as if flying, filled with dreadful demons and nagas protecting the city of Bhogavati (the city of Patala), unimaginably wellbuilt. It was once occupied by Kubera (half brother of Ravana). It was guarded by horrible demons holding tridents and spears in their hands. The city appeared like a cavern protected by venomous serpents with protruding fangs. Hanuman examined the high security of Lanka and looked at the ocean. He thought of the form of Ravana, a formidable enemy:
FAQs
Dharma is portrayed as courageous responsibility guided by clear-eyed evaluation: Hanumān studies threats (guards, ocean, enemy leader) so that his Satya-driven mission is executed without recklessness.
Hanumān surveys Laṅkā’s daunting height, population of fierce guardians, and historical association with Kubera; then he considers the practical challenge posed by the ocean and by Rāvaṇa himself.
Fearless steadiness with strategic intelligence: Hanumān neither panics nor underestimates the enemy; he prepares mentally for righteous action.