Shloka 5.5.15
चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम् — Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita
बुद्धिप्रधानान् रुचिराभिधानान् संश्रद्धधानान् जगतः प्रधानान्।नानाविधानान् रुचिराभिधानान् ददर्श तस्यां पुरि यातुधानान्।।5.5.15।।
buddhipradhānān rucirābhidhānān saṁśraddhadhānān jagataḥ pradhānān |nānāvidhānān rucirābhidhānān dadarśa tasyāṁ puri yātudhānān ||5.5.15||
In that city he saw yātudhānas—foremost in intellect, pleasant in speech and reputation, confident in their own convictions, eminent in the world, and of many different kinds.
He saw there in the city of Lanka, demons, who were intellectuals, pleasing in words, with faith in religion, pre-eminent heroes of the world of different kinds, followers of good practices and with lovely names.
It cautions that intelligence and eloquence are ethically neutral: without dharma and satya, even refined qualities can serve adharma.
Hanumān surveys Laṅkā and observes that many rākṣasas are capable, reputable, and socially eminent.
Balanced judgment: Hanumān (and the narrative) acknowledges opponents’ strengths without moral confusion.