Shloka 5.10.26
रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम् (Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court)
मुक्तामणिविचित्रेण काञ्चनेन विराजितम्।मकुटेनापवृत्तेन कुण्डलोज्वलिताननम्।।5.10.25।।रक्तचन्दनदिग्धेन तथा हारेण शोभिना।पीनायतविशालेन वक्षसाऽभिविराजितम्।।5.10.26।।पाण्डरेणापविद्धेन क्षौमेण क्षतजेक्षणम्।महार्हेण सुसंवीतं पीतेनोत्तमवाससा।।5.10.27।।माषराशिप्रतीकाशं निश्श्वसन्तं भुजङ्गवत्।गाङ्गे महति तोयान्ते प्रसुप्तमिव कुञ्जरम्।।5.10.28।।चतुर्भिः काञ्चनैर्दीपैद्धीप्यमानचतुर्दिशम्।प्रकाशीकृतसर्वाङ्गं मेघं विद्युद्गणैरिव।।5.10.29।।पादमूलगताश्चापि ददर्श सुमहात्मनः।पत्नी: स प्रियभार्यस्य तस्य रक्षःपतेर्गृहे।।5.10.30।।
raktacandanadigdhena tathā hāreṇa śobhinā |
pīnāyataviśālena vakṣasā’bhivirājitam ||5.10.26||
Smeared with red sandal paste and adorned with a gleaming necklace, his broad, full chest shone with great splendor.
Hanuman saw Ravana, whose face was lit up by his earrings. His shining headgear studded with gold and pearls was set aside. His fleshy, broad chest on which the pearl necklace had slightly receded from its position(as he was asleep) was shining along with the red sandal paste. He had put on a splendid white silken cloth which had also slipped a little and was covered with exquisitely rich yellow upper garment. His eyes were bloodred. His body was comparable to a heap of blackbeans. He was sighing heavily like a hissing snake. He appeared like an elephant sleeping on the banks of the great river Ganges. With four golden lamps glowing on four sides of the bed,the four directions were illuminated. All his limbs lit up bright (with the glow of lamps), he looked like a cloud with streaks of lightning. His dear wives were seen resting at his feet in the palace of the lord of demons.
By portraying Rāvaṇa’s external splendor, the text heightens the moral contrast central to dharma: worldly power and luxury can coexist with adharma, and outward brilliance is not proof of righteousness.
Satya here is narrative truthfulness: Hanumān’s observation is precise and unembellished in intent—recording what is seen (ornaments, sandal paste, shining chest) to establish an accurate scene before the ethical events that follow.