Shloka 19
रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्
Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court
काञ्चनाङ्गदसन्नध्दै च ददर्श स महात्मनः।विक्षिप्तौ राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भुजाविन्द्रध्वजोपमौ।।5.10.15।।ऐरावतविषाणाग्रैरापीडनकृतव्रणौ।वज्रोल्लिखितपीनांसौ विष्णुचक्रपरिक्षतौ।।5.10.16।।पीनौ समसुजातांसौ संगतौ बलसंयुतौ।सुलक्षणनखाङ्गुष्ठा स्वङ्गुलीतललक्षितौ।।5.10.17।।संहतौ परिघाकारौ वृत्तौ करिकरोपमौ।विक्षिप्तौ शयने शुभ्रे पञ्चशीर्षाविवोरगौ।।5.10.18।।शशक्षतजकल्पेन सुशीतेन सुगन्धिना।चन्दनेन परार्ध्येन स्वनुलिप्तौ स्वलङ्कृतौ।।5.10.19।।उत्तमस्त्रीविमृदितौ गन्धोत्तमनिषेवितौ।यक्षपन्नगगन्धर्वदेवदानवराविणौ।।5.10.20।।
śaśakṣatajakalpena suśītena sugandhinā |
candanena parārdhyena svanuliptau svalaṅkṛtau ||5.10.19||
അവ ഭുജങ്ങൾ അത്യന്തം വിലയേറിയ ചന്ദനലേപം കൊണ്ടു ലിപ്തവും അലങ്കൃതവുമായിരുന്നു—ശീതളവും സുഗന്ധിതവും, മുയലിന്റെ രക്തംപോലെ ചുവപ്പുനിറമുള്ളതും; അതുകൊണ്ട് വിശ്രമത്തിലായിരുന്നാലും ആഡംബരശോഭയിൽ ദീപ്തമായിരുന്നു।
Looking around, Hanuman noticed a bed chamber, with a heavenly dais on which he saw a couch encrusted with crystals, vaidurya, and inlaid with colourful ivory and gold. It had an exquisite rich covering.
FAQs
Dharma here is shown by contrast: external adornment and sensual refinement do not equal righteousness. The Ramayana repeatedly distinguishes inner virtue (dharma, satya) from outward splendor.
Hanumān, hidden in the palace, observes Rāvaṇa’s body—especially his mighty arms—lying on a bed, perfumed and decorated, as part of assessing the enemy while continuing the search for Sītā.
Hanumān’s clarity of judgment: he notes details precisely without being morally impressed by luxury, keeping truth (satya) about character separate from appearance.