Shloka 7

चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम्

Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita

Devanagari script

शिलातलं प्राप्य यथा मृगेन्द्रो महारणं प्राप्य यथा गजेन्द्रः।राज्यं समासाद्य यथा नरेन्द्र स्तथाप्रकाशो विरराज चन्द्रः।।5.5.7।।

Transliteration

śilātalaṃ prāpya yathā mṛgendro mahāraṇaṃ prāpya yathā gajendraḥ | rājyaṃ samāsādya yathā narendraḥ tathā prakāśo virarāja candraḥ || 5.5.7 ||

Translation

岩の高みに至った獅子が輝くように、深き森に入った象王が輝くように、王が王国を得て輝くように—そのように月は、光りわたって輝いた。

Word by Word

• śilā-talam: rocky ground
• śilā-talam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘rock-surface’; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana

• prāpya: having reached
• prāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāp (धातु) → prāpya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), avyaya-kriyāviśeṣaṇa; ‘having reached’

• yathā: as
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle

• mṛga-indraḥ: lion (lord of animals)
• mṛga-indraḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘lord of beasts’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• mahā-araṇyam: great forest
• mahā-araṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: ‘great forest’; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• prāpya: having reached
• prāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāp (धातु) → prāpya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerund (ल्यप्); ‘having reached/entered’

• yathā: as
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle

• gaja-indraḥ: lord of elephants
• gaja-indraḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘lord of elephants’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• samāsādya: having attained
• samāsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-sad (धातु) → samāsādya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerund (ल्यप्); ‘having attained’

• yathā: as
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle

• nara-indraḥ: a king
• nara-indraḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘lord of men/king’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tathā-prakāśaḥ: thus radiant
• tathā-prakāśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tathā (अव्यय) + prakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: ‘thus-bright’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• virarāja: shone forth
• virarāja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rāj (धातु) with vi-
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• candraḥ: the moon
• candraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

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.

Characters & Entities

• candra (Moon)

FAQs

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

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.

What is the narrative situation?

The moon’s brilliance is likened to sovereign and natural ‘lords’ (lion, elephant, king), reinforcing the night’s majesty as Hanumān continues his mission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Authority under restraint: the ‘lord’ images suggest power guided by order—mirroring the ideal that strength must serve dharma.