Shloka 5.5.22

चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम् — Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita

Devanagari script

चन्द्रप्रकाशाश्च हि वक्त्रमालाः वक्राक्षिपक्ष्माश्च सुनेत्रमालाः।विभूषणानां च ददर्श मालाः शतह्रदानामिव चारुमालाः।।5.5.22।।

Transliteration

candra-prakāśāś ca hi vaktra-mālāḥ vakrākṣi-pakṣmāś ca sunetra-mālāḥ | vibhūṣaṇānāṃ ca dadarśa mālāḥ śata-hradānām iva cāru-mālāḥ ||5.5.22||

Translation

He saw rows of faces radiant as moonlight, rows of lovely eyes with sidelong glances and graceful lashes, and garlands of ornaments—fair in succession like many flashes of lightning.

Context

He saw rows of faces of she-demons shining like moonlight with sidelong glances and graceful eye-lashes wearing ornaments resembling charmimg flashes of lightning.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā
• Moon (imagery)
• Lightning (imagery)

FAQs

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

The ethical point is indirect: sensory splendor can captivate, yet a dharmic mission demands mastery over attention—beauty is observed but not pursued.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān visually surveys the women and their adornments in Laṅkā’s palatial spaces during his search.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control (saṃyama): Hanumān remains unaffected by alluring sights.