Shloka 5.5.17

चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम् — Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita

Devanagari script

ततो वरार्हाः सुविशुद्धभावा स्तेषां स्त्रियस्तत्र महानुभावाः।प्रियेषु पानेषु च सक्तभावा ददर्श तारा इव सुप्रभावाः।।5.5.17।।

Transliteration

tato varārhāḥ suviśuddhabhāvāḥ teṣāṁ striyas tatra mahānubhāvāḥ |priyeṣu pāneṣu ca saktabhāvā dadarśa tārā iva suprabhāvāḥ ||5.5.17||

Translation

Then he beheld there the wives of those rākṣasas—women worthy of the finest adornments, of very pure disposition and noble presence—devoted to their beloveds and also fond of drink, shining like stars.

Context

There he saw demonesses adorned with choicest ornaments, their minds attached faithfully to their husbands and bottles of wine. Some of the wives of the demons, however, looked gentle and bright like stars.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rākṣasīs (wives of rākṣasas)

FAQs

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

The verse invites nuanced ethical seeing: even within an adharmic society, individuals may show purity and nobility; dharma requires fairness in judgment and truthfulness in observation.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān’s search brings him to scenes of household life, where he notices the rākṣasa women’s beauty, refinement, and attachments.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Impartiality (satya in perception): Hanumān recognizes goodness where it exists, without prejudice.