Shloka 9
चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम्
Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita
तन्त्रीस्वनाः कर्णसुखाः प्रवृत्ताः स्वपन्ति नार्यः पतिभिः सुवृत्ताः।नक्तंचराश्चापि तथा प्रवृत्ता: विहर्तुमत्यद्भुतरौद्रवृत्ताः।।5.5.9।।
tantrī-svanāḥ karṇa-sukhāḥ pravṛttāḥ svapanti nāryaḥ patibhiḥ su-vṛttāḥ | naktaṃ-carāś cāpi tathā pravṛttā vihartum aty-adbhuta-raudra-vṛttāḥ || 5.5.9 ||
Wohlklingende Saitentöne, dem Ohr angenehm, erhoben sich; tugendhafte Frauen schliefen an der Seite ihrer Gatten; und ebenso begannen die Nachtwandler umherzustreifen, in Taten wunderbar wild und grausam.
Pleasing sounds of string instruments had begun to be heard. Chaste women were found asleep with their husbands.The night-rangers had begun their strange (evil and cruel) deeds exhibiting their anger.
FAQs
Dharma is shown as good conduct in private life (su-vṛtta) contrasted with cruel nocturnal wrongdoing. The verse implies that righteousness is recognized by consistent behavior, not by spectacle.
Night life in Laṅkā is described: music and household rest occur alongside the ominous movement of violent night-wanderers, heightening tension for Hanumān’s covert mission.
Discernment: the ability to distinguish ordinary human virtue from predatory cruelty, essential for navigating Laṅkā without compromising the mission.