As Hanuman, the mighty son of the wind, moved stealthily through the splendid palace of Ravana, his eyes beheld a dazzling scene. At the ends of the sleeping women’s ears, he saw earrings and golden armlets, set with sparkling diamonds and cat’s-eye gems. Their faces, radiant as the moon and adorned with lovely ornaments, made the palace shine like the night sky filled with stars. All around, the slender-waisted women of the king of the Rakshasas lay asleep, exhausted from wine and playful revelry, scattered in various places. Among them, one skilled in dance lay gracefully, her limbs elegantly arranged, her beautiful form aglow in repose. Another, embracing a lute as she slept, resembled a lotus floating down a great river, clinging to a raft. A dark-eyed woman, with a drum by her side, shone with gentle affection, like a loving mother with her child. Nearby, a woman of beautiful limbs and lovely breasts lay sleeping, her drum set aside, as if she were a passionate lover embracing her beloved after a long union. One lotus-eyed woman, clutching her lute in slumber, appeared as a woman fulfilled, holding her dearest beloved close. Another, devoted to the art of dance, had fallen asleep still holding her vipanchi, radiant as a woman with her lover. One lay with eyes heavy from intoxication, her limbs gently striking a golden drum even in sleep. Another slender-waisted, blameless woman, overcome by drink, slept with a small drum nestled between her arms and at her side. Yet another, attached to her drum, embraced it as tenderly as a radiant woman would her young calf. A lotus-eyed woman, her mind clouded by intoxication, lay with a tambourine pressed beneath the embrace of her arms. Another, radiant, having cast aside her pitcher, slept like a garlanded creeper cleansed and adorned with spring flowers. One young woman, overcome by sleep, embraced her own breasts with both hands, which shone like golden pitchers. Another, lotus-eyed and moon-faced, overwhelmed by intoxication, lay embracing a shapely-hipped companion. Noble women, each embracing different musical instruments, slept pressing them to their bosoms, as lovers do with their beloveds. Amidst all these, Hanuman’s gaze fell upon a woman lying apart on a splendid couch—a figure of surpassing beauty. Adorned with ornaments set with pearls and gems, she seemed to fill the palace with her own radiance. There, Hanuman saw Mandodari, fair as gold, the cherished queen of the inner chambers, lying in tranquil beauty. Seeing her adorned so splendidly, Hanuman, mighty-armed and discerning, wondered if this was Sita, judging by her beauty, youth, and grace. Filled with joy, the monkey chief leapt and played, clapping, kissing his tail, singing, and climbing pillars, displaying the playful nature of his kind. But soon, Hanuman set aside this thought. He entered into deeper reflection concerning Sita. He reasoned that the radiant lady, separated from Rama, would neither wish to sleep, eat, adorn herself, nor partake of drink. She would not approach any other man, not even a lord among the gods, for truly, there was no one among the immortals equal to Rama. Concluding, “This is another,” Hanuman, eager to see Sita, wandered further into the hall of drinking. There, he saw women exhausted from play, from singing, from dancing, and others overcome by drink. Some stood by drums and cymbals, others on platforms for jesting, while some reclined on the chief couches. Hanuman saw Ravana himself, surrounded by a thousand women adorned with ornaments, skilled in conversation and song, pleasing in form. With one who was apt in time and place, who spoke fitting words and surpassed all in pleasure, Hanuman saw Ravana united. Elsewhere, he saw a thousand young women of exceptional beauty, skilled in conversation, lying asleep. He also saw one, apt in time and place, who spoke fitting words, lying asleep, sated with pleasure. The king of the Rakshasas shone among them, just as a great elephant is encircled by she-elephants in the forest. Hanuman, the foremost of monkeys, gazed upon the drinking hall, filled with every delight, in the house of the great-souled lord of the Rakshasas. There, he saw portions of the flesh of deer, buffaloes, and boars laid out. In broad golden vessels, peacocks and cocks, untouched, were displayed as well. Hanuman observed boar heads and the flesh of rhinoceros, seasoned with curds and salt, and skewered meats of deer and peacock. He saw various kinds of partridges, goats, and half-eaten hares, as well as buffaloes with many skewers, and sheep prepared for eating. There were soft and coarse foods to lick, to drink, and to eat, both rich and plain, with various sour and salty dishes, and colored confections—all manner of delights laid out before him. Thus, Hanuman beheld the opulent and intoxicating world of Ravana’s palace, searching ever onward for Sita, his heart steadfast in his sacred mission.