Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 13
लङ्काप्रवेशः
Hanuman’s Stealth Entry and Survey of Lanka
शुश्राव जपतां तत्र मन्त्रान् रक्षोगृहेषु वै।।5.4.12।।स्वाध्यायनिरतांश्चैव यातुधानान् ददर्श सः।रावणस्तवसंयुक्तान् गर्जतो राक्षसानपि।।5.4.13।।
śuśrāva japatāṃ tatra mantrān rakṣogṛheṣu vai ||5.4.12||
svādhyāyaniratāṃś caiva yātudhānān dadarśa saḥ |
rāvaṇastavasaṃyuktān garjato rākṣasān api ||5.4.13||
There he heard the chanting of mantras in the dwellings of the Rākṣasas. He also saw the Yātudhānas engaged in Vedic recitation, and even Rākṣasas roaring as they sang hymns in praise of Rāvaṇa.
He heard chantings of sacred verses in the houses of demons engaged in the study of the vedas. And heard demons singing loudly the eulogy of Ravana.
FAQs
Sacred learning without righteousness can be inverted: mantra and svādhyāya are not automatically dharmic if directed to glorify adharma (here, Rāvaṇa’s regime).
During nocturnal reconnaissance, Hanumān notices that even in Laṅkā there are ritual sounds—chanting and recitation—alongside aggressive praise of Rāvaṇa.
Discernment (viveka): Hanumān observes that external religiosity can coexist with moral corruption, strengthening his clarity about the mission’s righteousness.