Shloka 5.10.30
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।।
pādamūla-gatāś cāpi dadarśa sumahātmanaḥ |
patnīḥ sa priyabhāryasya tasya rakṣaḥpater gṛhe || 5.10.30 ||
There, in the house of that lord of the rākṣasas, he also saw the wives of that great one—his dear consorts—seated at his feet.
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.
The verse highlights social order within the adharma-filled palace, sharpening the Ramayana’s moral contrast: external splendor and hierarchy can exist even where righteousness is absent; true dharma is measured by conduct, not display.
Hanumān, still searching for Sītā, surveys the sleeping arrangements and notices Rāvaṇa’s wives lying or seated near his feet.
Hanumān’s discernment and moral focus—he observes intimate details yet remains inwardly committed to Sītā’s welfare and Rāma’s purpose.