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 |
ചില സ്ത്രീകൾ മുരജയും മൃദംഗവും പീഠികകളും മേൽ ഇരിക്കുകയോ കിടക്കുകയോ ചെയ്തിരുന്നു; മറ്റുചിലർ ഉത്തമമായ ശയ്യകളിലും മനോഹരമായ ആസ്തരണങ്ങളിലുമായിരുന്നു വിശ്രമിച്ചത്.
'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.