Shloka 12
लङ्काप्रवेशः
Hanuman’s Stealth Entry and Survey of Lanka
शुश्राव जपतां तत्र मन्त्रान् रक्षोगृहेषु वै।।।।स्वाध्यायनिरतांश्चैव यातुधानान् ददर्श सः।रावणस्तवसंयुक्तान् गर्जतो राक्षसानपि।।।।
śuśrāva japatāṃ tatra mantrān rakṣogṛheṣu vai ||5.4.12||
svādhyāyaniratāṃś caiva yātudhānān dadarśa saḥ |
rāvaṇastavasaṃyuktān garjato rākṣasān api ||5.4.13||
അവിടെ അവൻ രാക്ഷസഗൃഹങ്ങളിൽ മന്ത്രജപത്തിന്റെ ധ്വനി കേട്ടു. സ്വാധ്യായത്തിൽ നിരതരായ യാതുധാനന്മാരെയും അവൻ കണ്ടു; രാവണസ്തുതിയോടെ ഗാനം പാടി ഗർജ്ജിക്കുന്ന രാക്ഷസന്മാരെയും കണ്ടു।
He heard chantings of sacred verses in the houses of demons engaged in the study of the vedas. And heard demons singing loudly the eulogy of Ravana.
FAQs
Sacred learning without righteousness can be inverted: mantra and svādhyāya are not automatically dharmic if directed to glorify adharma (here, Rāvaṇa’s regime).
During nocturnal reconnaissance, Hanumān notices that even in Laṅkā there are ritual sounds—chanting and recitation—alongside aggressive praise of Rāvaṇa.
Discernment (viveka): Hanumān observes that external religiosity can coexist with moral corruption, strengthening his clarity about the mission’s righteousness.