Shloka 5.5.14
चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम् — Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita
महागजैश्चापि तथा नदद्भि: सुपूजितैश्चापि तथा सुसद्भिः।रराज वीरैश्च विनिःश्वसद्भिः ह्रदो भुजङ्गैरिव निःश्वसद्भिः।।5.5.14।।
mahāgajaiś cāpi tathā nadadbhiḥ supūjitaiś cāpi tathā susadbhiḥ |rarāja vīraiś ca viniḥśvasadbhiḥ hrado bhujaṅgair iva niḥśvasadbhiḥ ||5.5.14||
It shone with great elephants trumpeting, with honored and well-seated nobles, and with warriors breathing hard—like a lake that gleams while serpents hiss within it.
There were huge elephants trumpeting, respected people, warriors sighing for the lack of enemies (to vanquish). It had a lake infested with hissing snakes.
Power and grandeur can coexist with inner danger; dharma demands that strength be guided by righteousness, otherwise it becomes like a beautiful lake made perilous by serpents.
Hanumān notes the intimidating magnificence of Laṅkā—its military and royal presence—while assessing risks.
Prudence and situational awareness: Hanumān recognizes both splendor and threat.