Sundarakanda Sarga 6: The Survey of Ravana's Palace (Full Text & Meaning) 

A high-definition digital rendering of Valmiki’s Sarga 6, optimized for daily parayana and deep study. 

Section 1: Renewed Resolve and the Golden Ramparts (Shlokas 1–4)

sa nikāmaṅ vimānēṣu niṣaṇṇaḥ kāmarūpadhṛk | vicacāra punarlaṅkāṅ lāghavēna samanvitaḥ || 1

Hanuman, the powerful being who could change his form at will, became dejected after searching the chambers of Ravana's palace in vain. Despite his disappointment, he immediately regained his resolve and began to search the palace again with renewed agility. (1)

āsasādātha lakṣmīvānrākṣasēndranivēśanam | prākārēṇārkavarṇēna bhāsvarēṇābhisamvṛtam || 2

The glorious and auspicious Hanuman then approached the palace of Rāvaṇa, the King of Rākṣasas, which was magnificent, being surrounded and protected by rampart that glowed with golden hue of the sun. (2)

rakṣitaṅ rākṣasairghōraiḥ siṅhairiva mahadvanam | samīkṣamāṇō bhavanaṅ cakāśē kapikuñjaraḥ || 3

Hanuman examined the palace which was fiercely guarded by Rākṣasas like a great forest protected by lions. (3)

rūpyakōpahitaiścitraiḥ stōraṇairhēmabhūṣitaiḥ | vicitrābhiśca kakṣyābhiḥ dvāraiśca rucirairvṛtam || 4

The palace was adorned with wonderfully variegated gateways, which were embellished with silver and gold. It was filled with various splendid courtyards and entrances. (4)

Section 3: The Residents and Royal Aura (Shlokas 8–16)

dṛśyaiśca paramōdāraiḥ staistaiśca mṛgapakṣibhiḥ | vividhai rbahusāhasraiḥ paripūrṇaṅ samantataḥ || 8

The palace grounds were filled with thousands of various deer and Indian mynas. These animals and birds were a magnificent sight. (8)

vinītairantapālaiśca rakṣōbhiśca surakṣitam | mukhyābhiśca varastrībhiḥ paripūrṇaṅ samantataḥ || 9

It was meticulously secured by disciplined and trained Rākṣasas and was filled with the presence of the chief, most excellent women. (9)

muditapramadāratnaṅ rākṣasēndranivēśanam | varābharaṇasaṅhrādaiḥ samudrasvanannisvanam || 10

The dwelling of the King of Rākṣasas was filled with the most excellent and happy women. The captivating, tinkling sound of their ornaments resonated like the sound of the sea. (10)

tadrājaguṇasampannaṅ mukhyaiścāgurucandanaiḥ | mahājanaiḥ samākīrṇāṅ siṅhairiva mahadvanam || 11 bhērīmṛdaṅgābhirutaṅ śaṅkhaghōṣanināditam | nityārcitaṅ parvahutaṅ pūjitaṅ rākṣasaiḥ sadā || 12

The palace, possessing all the auspicious attributes of a royal dwelling, was filled with the fragrance of the finest aloe wood (aguru) and sandalwood. It was crowded with robust rakshasas as a forest is filled with wild lions. It was filled with the sounds of drums (bheri, mridanga) and conches, and was always worshiped by the Rākṣasas. (11 - 12)

samudramiva gambhīraṅ samudramiva nissvanam | mahātmanō mahādvēśma mahāratnaparicchadam | mahāratnasamākīrṇaṅ dadarśa sa mahākapiḥ || 13 

virājamānaṅ vapuṣā gajāśvaratha saṅkulam | laṅkābharaṇamityēva sō.manyata mahākapiḥ || 14 

cacāra hanumāṅstatra rāvaṇasya samīpataḥ || 15 

gṛhādgṛhaṅ rākṣasānāmudyānāni ca vānaraḥ | vīkṣamāṇō.hyasaṅtrastaḥ prāsādāṅśca cacāra saḥ || 16

The Mahākapi, Hanuman, roamed through the grand palace of Ravana, which was as deep and wide as a noiseless ocean. Scattered with great jewels, the palace was crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots. Hanuman considered the magnificent structure to be the very jewel of the entire city of Lanka. He roamed and searched without any fear through all the houses and gardens belonging to the Rākṣasas. (13 - 16

Section 5: The Guardians and Divine Beasts (Shlokas 29–35)

rāvaṇasyōpaśāyinyō dadarśa harisattamaḥ | vicaranhariśārdūlō rākṣasīrvikṛtēkṣaṇāḥ || śūlamudgarahastāśca śaktitōmaradhāriṇī || 29

Hanuman saw the women who were sleeping near Rāvaṇa, and Rākṣasa women with crooked eyes who were holding spears (śūla), clubs (mudgara), and carrying śakti darts and javelins (tōmara). (29)

dadarśa vividhān gulmān tasya rakṣaḥpatērgṛhē | rākṣasāṅśca mahākāyānnānāpraharaṇōdyatān || 30 raktān śvētān sitāṅścaiva harīṅścāpi mahājavān | kulīnān rūpasampannān gajānparagajārujān || 31 niṣṭhitān gajaśikṣayāmairāvatasamānyudhi | nihantrūn parasainyānāṅ gṛhē tasmin dadarśa saḥ || 32

In the house of the King of Rākṣasas, Hanuman beheld various battalions and huge-bodied Rākṣasa guards. He also saw very swift horses and elephants that were highly skilled in battle, likened to Indra's Airavata. These formidable elephants dripped ichor like monsoon clouds and sounded like the roar of a thunderous mass of clouds, making them unconquerable. (30 - 32)

kṣarataśca yathā mēghān sravataśca yathā girīn | mēghasantatinirghōṣān durdharṣān samarē paraiḥ || 33 sahasraṅ vāhinīstatra jāmbūnadapariṣkṛtāḥ | hēmajālaparicchannāstaruṇādityasannibhāḥ || 34 dadarśa rākṣasēndrasya rāvaṇasya nivēśanē || 35

Furthermore, Hanuman beheld thousands of troops and vehicles, all splendidly adorned with gold, shining brilliantly like the afternoon sun within Rāvaṇa's dwelling. (33 - 35)

Section 6: The Wonders of Ravana's Inner Sanctum (Shlokas 36–44)

śibikā vividhākārāḥ sa kapirmārutātmajaḥ | latāgṛhāṇi citrāṇi citraśālāgṛhāṇi ca || 36 krīḍāgṛhāṇi cānyāni dāruparvatakānapi | kāmasya gṛhakaṅ ramyaṅ divāgṛhakamēva ca || dadarśa rākṣasēndrasya rāvaṇasya nivēśanē || 37

Hanuman saw numerous diverse structures: palanquins of various shapes, houses made of creepers, painting halls, recreational playhouses, and hiking mountains with Himalayan Cedar trees. He also beheld beautiful chambers meant for pleasure and serene daytime resting chambers. (36 - 37)

sa mandaragiriprakhyaṅ mayūrasthānasaṅkulam | dhvajayaṣṭibhirākīrṇaṅ dadarśa bhavanōttamam || 38 anēkaratnasaṅkīrṇaṅ nidhijālaṅ samantataḥ | dhīraniṣṭhitakarmāntaṅ gṛhaṅ bhūtapatēriva || 39 arcirbhiścāpi ratnānāṅ tējasā rāvaṇasya ce | virarājātha tadvēśma raśmimāniva raśmibhiḥ || 40 jāmbūnadamayānyēna śayanānyāsanāni ca | bhājanāni ca mukhyāni dadarśa hariyūthapaḥ || 41

This supreme palace was likened to the great Mandara Mountain, crowded with peacocks, and filled with towering flagstaffs. It resembled Kailasa, the house of Mahashiva, reflecting the combined luster of gems and the splendor of Rāvaṇa himself. The palatial home contained beds, seats, and vessels made entirely of gold. (38 - 41)

madhvāsavakṛtaklēdaṅ maṇibhājanasaṅkulam | manōramamasaṅbādhaṅ kubērabhavanaṅ yathā || 42 nūpurāṇāṅ ca ghōṣēṇa kāñcīnāṅ ninadēna ca | mṛdaṅtalaghōṣaiśca ghōṣavadbhirvināditam || 43 prāsādasaṅghātayutaṅ strīratnaśatasaṅkulam | suvyūḍhakakṣyaṅ hanumān pravivēśa mahāgṛhām || 44

The palace was drenched in sweet wine and intoxicating drinks, resembling the heavenly palace of Kubera. It resounded with the tinkling sounds of women's anklets, waistbands, and the festive beats of mridanga drums. Hanuman finally entered the great inner mansion, crowded with hundreds of the finest, jewel-like women. (42 - 44)

ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde ṣaṣṭhassargaḥ