Shloka 5
रावणान्तःपुर-पानभूमि-विचयः
Hanumān’s Survey of Rāvaṇa’s Inner Palace and Banquet Hall
मुरजेषु मृदङ्गेषु पीठिकासु च संस्थिताः।।5.11.5।।तथाऽऽस्तरणमुख्येषु संविष्टाश्चापराः स्त्रियः।
murajeṣu mṛdaṅgeṣu pīṭhikāsu ca saṃsthitāḥ || 5.11.5 ||
tathā ’staraṇamukhyeṣu saṃviṣṭāś cāparāḥ striyaḥ |
Certaines femmes reposaient sur des tambours muraja, des tambours mṛdaṅga et de petits sièges ; d’autres étaient étendues sur d’excellents lits et de riches étoffes.
'It is not possible for me to look for Vaidehi elsewhere. During such search operations one always looks for women among women.'
FAQs
The verse supports the dharmic framing of Hanuman’s mission: even amid luxury and sensuality, the task remains disciplined and goal-directed—an implicit contrast between indulgence and duty.
Hanuman is inside Ravana’s inner quarters, observing the sleeping women and the opulent setting while continuing his search for Sita.
Steadfastness (dhṛti) and focus on duty (kārya-niṣṭhā), as the scene sets up Hanuman’s controlled observation without losing his purpose.