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Shloka 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 ||

ശിലാതലം പ്രാപിച്ച മൃഗേന്ദ്രൻ (സിംഹം) പോലെ, മഹാരണ്യത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ച ഗജേന്ദ്രൻ പോലെ, രാജ്യം കൈവരിച്ച നരേന്ദ്രൻ പോലെ—അങ്ങനെ പ്രകാശമുള്ള ചന്ദ്രൻ ദീപ്തിയായി വിരാജിച്ചു.

śilā-talamrocky ground
śilā-talam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśilā (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: ‘rock-surface’; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana
prāpyahaving reached
prāpya:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootprāp (धातु) → prāpya (कृदन्त)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), avyaya-kriyāviśeṣaṇa; ‘having reached’
yathāas
yathā:
Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; comparative particle
mṛga-indraḥlion (lord of animals)
mṛga-indraḥ:
Upamāna (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootmṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: ‘lord of beasts’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
mahā-araṇyamgreat forest
mahā-araṇyam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmahā (प्रातिपदिक) + araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormKarmadhāraya: ‘great forest’; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
prāpyahaving reached
prāpya:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootprāp (धातु) → prāpya (कृदन्त)
FormGerund (ल्यप्); ‘having reached/entered’
yathāas
yathā:
Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; comparative particle
gaja-indraḥlord of elephants
gaja-indraḥ:
Upamāna (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootgaja (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: ‘lord of elephants’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
rājyamkingdom
rājyam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootrājya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
samāsādyahaving attained
samāsādya:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsam-ā-sad (धातु) → samāsādya (कृदन्त)
FormGerund (ल्यप्); ‘having attained’
yathāas
yathā:
Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; comparative particle
nara-indraḥa king
nara-indraḥ:
Upamāna (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootnara (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: ‘lord of men/king’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
tathā-prakāśaḥthus radiant
tathā-prakāśaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roottathā (अव्यय) + prakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAvyayībhāva: ‘thus-bright’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
virarājashone forth
virarāja:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootrāj (धातु) with vi-
FormLiṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana
candraḥthe moon
candraḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootcandra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

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.

C
candra (Moon)

FAQs

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.