Shloka 5.5.7
चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम् — Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita
शिलातलं प्राप्य यथा मृगेन्द्रो महारणं प्राप्य यथा गजेन्द्रः।राज्यं समासाद्य यथा नरेन्द्र स्तथाप्रकाशो विरराज चन्द्रः।।5.5.7।।
śilātalaṃ prāpya yathā mṛgendro mahāraṇaṃ prāpya yathā gajendraḥ | rājyaṃ samāsādya yathā narendraḥ tathā prakāśo virarāja candraḥ || 5.5.7 ||
As a lion shines upon reaching a rocky height, as a lordly elephant shines upon entering the deep forest, and as a king shines upon attaining his kingdom—so the Moon shone, radiant.
The Moon shone bright like a lion mounted on a rock, like a lordly elephant in a deep forest, like a king on attaining the kingdom.
Dharma as rightful attainment and rightful station: the king’s splendour after attaining the kingdom implies legitimacy and responsibility. True radiance follows proper order, not mere power.
The moon’s brilliance is likened to sovereign and natural ‘lords’ (lion, elephant, king), reinforcing the night’s majesty as Hanumān continues his mission.
Authority under restraint: the ‘lord’ images suggest power guided by order—mirroring the ideal that strength must serve dharma.