Shloka 57
पुष्पकविमानवर्णनम्
Description of the Pushpaka Vimana and Ravana’s Inner Palace
शर्कराऽसवगन्धैश्च प्रकृत्या सुरभिः सुखः।तासां वदननिश्वासस्सिषेवे रावणं तदा।।5.9.57।।
śarkarāsavagandhaiś ca prakṛtyā surabhiḥ sukhaḥ | tāsāṃ vadananiśvāsaḥ siṣeve rāvaṇaṃ tadā || 5.9.57 ||
ശർക്കരയും ആസവവും ചേർന്ന സുഗന്ധം നിറഞ്ഞ, സ്വഭാവതഃ തന്നെ മധുരസൗരഭ്യവും സുഖകരതയും ഉള്ള അവരുടെ വദനനിശ്വാസം, അപ്പോൾ രാവണനെ ആനന്ദിപ്പിച്ചു; അവനെ സേവിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ തോന്നി।
The sweet smell of wine emitted from their mouth and the natural fragrance of their breath was refreshing to Ravana as if it was serving him at that time.
FAQs
The verse functions as a cautionary mirror: sensual luxury can ‘serve’ adharma by feeding attachment; the Ramayana’s dharmic lens urges mastery over desire rather than submission to it.
Hanumān’s description shifts to the sensory atmosphere around Ravana—perfumed breath and intoxication within the royal quarters.
Moral clarity (satya-buddhi): recognizing indulgence as a sign of Ravana’s attachment, not as an ideal.