Shloka 18

चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम्

Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita

Devanagari script

श्रिया ज्वलन्तीस्त्रपयोपगूढा निशीथकाले रमणोपगूढाः।ददर्श काश्चित्प्रमदोपगूढा यथा विहङ्गाः कुसुमोपगूढाः।।5.5.18।।

Transliteration

śriyā jvalantīs trapayopagūḍhā niśīthakāle ramaṇopagūḍhāḥ |dadarśa kāścit pramadopagūḍhā yathā vihaṅgāḥ kusumopagūḍhāḥ ||5.5.18||

Translation

നിശീഥകാലത്ത് അവൻ ചില സ്ത്രീകളെ കണ്ടു—ശ്രീയാൽ ജ്വലിക്കുന്നവർ, ലജ്ജയാൽ പൊതിഞ്ഞവർ, പ്രിയതമന്റെ ആലിംഗനത്തിൽ ലീനർ; മറ്റുചിലർ കളിരസത്തിൽ മൂടപ്പെട്ടവർ—പുഷ്പങ്ങളിൽ ഒളിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്ന പക്ഷികളെപ്പോലെ.

Word by Word

• श्रिया: with beauty/grace
• श्रिया: करण (instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (feminine; instrumental case; singular)

• ज्वलन्तीः: shining, blazing
• ज्वलन्तीः: कर्तृ/विशेषण (qualifier of the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु) → ज्वलन्ती (वर्तमान-कृदन्त, शतृ/शतृ-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन (feminine; nominative; plural); वर्तमान-कर्तरि-प्रत्यय (present active participle)

• त्रपया: with shyness/modesty
• त्रपया: करण (instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (feminine; instrumental; singular)

• उपगूढाः: embraced, closely held
• उपगूढाः: कर्तृ/विशेषण (qualifier of the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + गूह् (धातु) → उपगूढ (भूतकृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन (feminine; nominative; plural); कर्मणि भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• निशीथकाले: at midnight / in the night-time
• निशीथकाले: अधिकरण (locus/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशीथ + काल (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (masculine; locative; singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निशीथस्य कालः)

• रमणोपगूढाः: embraced by their beloved
• रमणोपगूढाः: कर्तृ/विशेषण (qualifier of the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रमण + उपगूढ (प्रातिपदिक + कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन (feminine; nominative; plural); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (रमणेन उपगूढाः = embraced by the lover)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परस्मैपदम्); प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन (perfect; active; 3rd person singular)

• काश्चित्: some (women)
• काश्चित्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय/निपात)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन (feminine; accusative; plural); अनिश्चितार्थक-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun: 'some')

• प्रमदोपगूढाः: embraced by delight/joy
• प्रमदोपगूढाः: कर्तृ/विशेषण (qualifier of the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमद + उपगूढ (प्रातिपदिक + कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन (feminine; nominative; plural); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (प्रमदेन उपगूढाः = embraced by joy/delight)

• यथा: as, like
• यथा: सम्बन्ध/उपमान-निर्देश (comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा/तुलना-वाचक (indeclinable; comparative particle)

• विहङ्गाः: birds
• विहङ्गाः: उपमान (standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन (masculine; nominative; plural)

• कुसुमोपगूढाः: covered with flowers
• कुसुमोपगूढाः: उपमान-विशेषण (qualifier of the standard of comparison)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुसुम + उपगूढ (प्रातिपदिक + कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन (masculine; nominative; plural); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (कुसुमैः उपगूढाः = covered/embraced by flowers)

Context

There he saw cheerful demonesses shining brightly, abashed by the embrace of their beloveds during the night. He also saw those sporting with their beloveds freely and looking like birds embracing flowers.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rākṣasīs
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

The verse sets a backdrop of pleasure against which Hanumān’s dharma-driven restraint stands out: righteous duty persists even when the world is absorbed in enjoyment.

What is the narrative situation?

During midnight reconnaissance, Hanumān observes intimate scenes in Laṅkā’s inner quarters while continuing his search for Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-mastery (saṁyama): Hanumān remains controlled and purposeful amid sensual surroundings.