October 15 - Sarga 9 of Sundara Kanda.
Hanuman sees Ravana sleeping amidst his many women in such glory that Hanuman himself is stunned by his grandeur and evident invincibility and recoils in fright. Then he espies the chief queen Mandodari (मन्दोदरी) sleeping by herself like a true goddess. He mistakes her for Sita and celebrates. Valmiki says Hanuman, by mistaking Mandodari for Sita, displayed his "monkey mind".
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Central to his inner quarters is situated Ravana's own bed-chamber. It is large and accommodates much entertainment and pleasure-seeking. Golden couches, several accessories for delighting Ravana including incenses, flowers, fans and so on, bedspreads made of soft skins and adorned with garlands, are all seen in the centre around a raised dais. Fragrances assault the olfactory sense.
Central to his inner quarters is situated Ravana's own bed-chamber. It is large and accommodates much entertainment and pleasure-seeking. Golden couches, several accessories for delighting Ravana including incenses, flowers, fans and so on, bedspreads made of soft skins and adorned with garlands, are all seen in the centre around a raised dais. Fragrances assault the olfactory sense.
Many queens of Ravana are lying in various postures, proof of having entertained him last night, and are all blissfully asleep. They are sprawled around Ravana, clutching musical instruments like veena and drums, and seem to have had a grand night of celebration.
Then Hanuman sees Ravana.
तस्मिन् जीमूतसङ्काशं प्रदीप्तोज्ज्वलकुण्डलम् ।
लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुं महारजतवाससम् ॥
प्रियं राक्षसकन्यानां राक्षसानां सुखावहम् ।
भास्वरे शयनं वीरं प्रसुप्तं राक्षसाधिपम् ॥
निःश्वसन्तं यथा नागं रावणं वानरोत्तमः ।
आसाद्य परमोद्विग्नः सोपसर्वत् सुभीतवत् ॥
"Hanuman then saw Ravana, huge like a dark cloud, adorned with brilliant ear-rings, red-eyed as he could guess, with huge limbs, wearing clothes made entirely of silver and gold threads. He was impressive like the Mandara mountain full of splendid flowering and fruit-bearing trees, with all his adornments.
"Ravana had mighty limbs, reddish in colour, bearing scars made by the thunderbolt and discus during his battles with Indra and Vishnu. They looked massive, like five-hooded serpents, and always struck terror in his adversaries in battle, be they gods, demons, or others.
"Ravana, the chief who brought much pleasure to rakshasas, rested amidst his favourite women who were hugging him. He slept in a glittering bed.
" Seeing Ravana, whose heavy breathing was like a hooded serpent's hisses, Hanuman was frightened and shaken. He recoiled from him."
Hanuman jumped onto a pillar and again surveyed Ravana and his women all around. There are more descriptions from Valmiki but you get the general drift.
Then Hanuman saw Mandodari, Ravana's principal queen, sleeping by herself.
तासां एकान्तविन्यस्ते शयानां शयने शुभे ।
ददर्श रूपसम्पन्नां तां स कपिः स्त्रियम् ॥
मुक्तामणिसमायुक्तैर्भूषणैः सुविभूषिताम् ।
विभूषयन्तीमिव च स्वश्रिया भवनोत्तमम् ॥
गौरीं कनकवर्णाभामिष्टामन्तःपुरेश्वरीम् ।
कपिर्मन्दोदरीं तत्र शयानां चारुरूपिणीम् ॥
स तां दृष्ट्वा महाबाहुर्भूषितां मारुतात्मजः ।
तर्कयामास सीतेति रूपयौवनसम्पदा ।
हर्षेण महता युक्तो ननन्द हरियूटपः ॥
आस्फोटयामास चचुम्ब पुच्छं
ननन्द चिक्रीड जगौ जगाम ।
स्तम्भानरोहन्निपपात भूमौ
निदर्शयन् त्वां प्रकृतिं कपीनाम् ॥
"Then Hanuman saw a lady, separated from others, lying by herself on a splendid couch. She was a very beautiful one. She wore splendid ornaments, richly encrusted with gems and diamonds. It was as if she herself was a supreme adornment for the entire palace.
"She was fair, with a golden glow in her skin, very attractive, surely she must be the chief queen in all of the ladies quarters (antahpura). Hanuman saw indeed Mandodari, the chief queen of Ravana, who was well known for her supreme beauty. But Hanuman could not recognise her.
"The son of Vayu, seeing that lovely-limbed lady, young and attractive, guessed that she must be Sita herself. The chief of monkeys could not stop himself from celebrating!
"He exploded in celebration, picked up his tail and kissed it, and hopped around clapping his hands in excitement. He climbed up pillars and jumped down, displaying his monkey nature to the fullest."
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
