Shloka 4.41.31

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः (Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā)

Devanagari script

तस्यैकं काञ्चनं शृङ्गं सेवतेऽयं दिवाकरः।।4.41.30।।श्वेतं राजतमेकं च सेवतेऽयं निशाकरः।न तं कृतघ्नाः पश्यन्ति न नृशंसा न नास्तिकाः।।4.41.31।।

Transliteration

śvetaṃ rājatam ekaṃ ca sevate 'yaṃ niśākaraḥ |

na taṃ kṛtaghnāḥ paśyanti na nṛśaṃsā na nāstikāḥ || 4.41.31 ||

Translation

And the Moon frequents another peak—white and silver. But the ungrateful, the cruel, and the faithless are unable to behold that sight.

Context

'The Sun resorts to its golden peak. The Moon rests over its silver peak. Neither the ungrateful, nor the mean nor the unbelievers can behold this (phenomenon).

Characters & Entities

• Moon (Niśākara)
• a mountain with a silver peak (unnamed here, in the described route)
• kṛtaghna (the ungrateful)
• nṛśaṃsa (the cruel)
• nāstika (the faithless/denier)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse links moral character with spiritual perception: gratitude, compassion, and faith align one with dharma, while ingratitude, cruelty, and denial obstruct one’s ability to recognize what is sacred and true.

What is the narrative situation?

While outlining the southern route, Sugrīva describes a wondrous mountain-phenomenon and adds a moral observation about who can truly behold it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṛtajñatā (gratitude) as a defining virtue: the grateful are implicitly qualified for higher vision and worthy participation in righteous tasks.