Shloka 5.10.9
रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम् (Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court)
तस्मिन् जीमूतसंकाशं प्रदीप्तोत्तमकुण्डलम्।लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुं महारजतवाससम्।।5.10.7।।लोहितेनानुलिप्ताङ्गं चन्दनेन सुगन्धिना।सन्ध्यारक्तमिवाकाशे तोयदं सतटिद्गणम्।।5.10.8।।वृतमाभरणैर्दिव्यैः सुरूपं कामरूपिणम्।सवृक्षवनगुल्माढ्यं प्रसुप्तमिव मन्दरम्।।5.10.9।।क्रीडित्वोपरतं रात्रौ वराभरणभूषितम्।प्रियं राक्षसकन्यानां राक्षसानां सुखावहम्।।5.10.10।।पीत्वाऽप्युपरतं चापि ददर्श स महाकपिः।भास्वरे शयने वीरं प्रसुप्तं राक्षसाधिपम्।।5.10.11।।
vṛtam ābharaṇair divyaiḥ surūpaṃ kāmarūpiṇam |
savṛkṣavanagulmāḍhyaṃ prasuptam iva mandaram ||5.10.9||
Adorned with divine ornaments, handsome and able to assume forms at will, he lay asleep like Mount Mandara—dense with trees, forests, and thickets.
Hanuman saw the mightyarmed, heroic lord of demons, sleeping with huge bloodshot eyes looking like a cloud, he was adorned with flashing earrings, and clad in robes of silver texture. His body was smeared with red sandal paste of sweet fragrance. Therefore, he looked like a cloud reddened by twilight and flashing with the lightning of his ornaments. He was handsome and could assume any form at will. He looked like Mandara mountain surrounded thickly with trees and wild bushes. Decked with exquisite ornaments, he was sleeping after dalliance at night on that glittering couch. He was the beloved of the ogresses and bringer of joy to them
The verse underscores that extraordinary abilities (like kāmarūpatva) and magnificence are ethically neutral; they become meaningful only when governed by dharma and satya. Power without righteousness can resemble a ‘mountain’—immense yet obstructive.
Hanumān’s reconnaissance continues as he assesses the sleeping rākṣasa-king’s imposing presence and supernatural capacity.
Courage with restraint: Hanumān remains undetected and does not act impulsively, prioritizing the dharmic objective—locating and protecting Sītā.