Shloka 5.50.9
रावण-प्रहस्त-हनूमद्वार्ता (Ravana and Prahasta Question Hanuman)
यदि वैश्रवणस्य त्वं यमस्य वरुणस्य च।चाररूपमिदं कृत्वा प्रविष्टो नः पुरीमिमाम्।।5.50.9।।विष्णुना प्रेषितो वाऽपि दूतो विजयकाङ्क्षिणा।
yadi vaiśravaṇasya tvaṃ yamasya varuṇasya ca |
cārarūpam idaṃ kṛtvā praviṣṭo naḥ purīm imām ||
viṣṇunā preṣito vā ’pi dūto vijayakāṅkṣiṇā |
“Or if you, assuming this spy-like guise, have entered our city as an agent of Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera), or of Yama, or of Varuṇa—or even as a messenger sent by Viṣṇu, seeking victory—say so.”
Dharma in interrogation emphasizes truthful identification and clarity of allegiance—knowing ‘who sent you’ before responding with policy or punishment.
Prahasta enumerates possible divine powers who might have dispatched the intruder, framing Hanumān as a potential spy or envoy.
Analytical caution—testing multiple hypotheses while still directing the captive toward truthful disclosure.