Shloka 18
लङ्कादर्शनं तथा रात्रौ सूक्ष्मरूपेण प्रवेशोपायचिन्तनम्
Vision of Lanka and Strategy for Nocturnal Entry
समासाद्य च लक्ष्मीवान् लङ्कां रावणपालिताम्।परिखाभिः सपद्माभिः सोत्पलाभिरलङ्कृताम्।।5.2.14।।सीतापहरणार्थेन रावणेन सुरक्षिताम्।समन्ताद्विचरद्भिश्च राक्षसैरुग्रधन्विभिः।।5.2.15।।काञ्चनेनावृतां रम्यां प्राकारेण महापुरीम्।गृहैश्च ग्रहसंकाशैः शारदाम्बुदसन्निभैः।।5.2.16।।पाण्डुराभिः प्रतोलीभिरुच्चाभिरभिसंवृताम्।अट्टालकशताकीर्णां पताकाध्वजमालिनीम्।।5.2.17।।तोरणैः काञ्चनैर्दिव्यैर्लतापङ्त्किविचित्रितैः।ददर्श हनुमान् लङ्कां दिवि देवपुरीं यथा।।5.2.18।।
toraṇaiḥ kāñcanair divyair latāpaṅktivicitrītaiḥ | dadarśa hanumān laṅkāṃ divi devapurīṃ yathā ||
Hanumān contemplou Laṅkā adornada com divinos toranas de ouro fulgurante, embelezada por fileiras de trepadeiras em desenhos variados—como uma cidade dos devas no céu.
Having reached the northern entrance of the city he started thinking that Visvakarma must have conceived Lanka as a lady with its ramparts as her hips and loins, moats filled with water as her robes, the spiked iron tridents as her locks of hair, and the tall towers as her her ear- rings
FAQs
The verse teaches discernment: even if Adharma is clothed in divine beauty, one must hold to Satya and Dharma rather than be swayed by appearances.
From his vantage point, Hanumān sees Laṅkā’s ornate entrances and compares its splendor to a celestial city.
Moral clarity: Hanumān can admire the city’s beauty while remaining committed to rescuing Sītā.