Shloka 8

चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम्

Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita

Devanagari script

प्रकाशचन्द्रोदयनष्टदोषः प्रवृत्तरक्षः पिशिताशदोषः।रामाभिरामेरितचित्तदोषः स्वर्गप्रकाशो भगवान् प्रदोषः।।5.5.8।।

Transliteration

prakāśa-candrodaya-naṣṭa-doṣaḥ pravṛtta-rakṣaḥ piśitāśa-doṣaḥ | rāmābhirāmerita-citta-doṣaḥ svarga-prakāśo bhagavān pradoṣaḥ || 5.5.8 ||

Translation

പ്രകാശമുള്ള ചന്ദ്രോദയം കൊണ്ട് അന്ധകാരദോഷം അകന്നു; രാത്രിചരരായ രാക്ഷസർ മാംസഭക്ഷണസ്വഭാവമുള്ള ഭീകരപ്രവൃത്തികളിൽ ഏർപ്പെട്ടു; രാമാഭിരാമസ്മരണയാൽ സ്ത്രീകളുടെ ഹൃദയത്തിൽ പ്രണയവികാരം ഉണർന്നു—സ്വർഗ്ഗസദൃശമായ പ്രകാശം പരത്തുന്ന ഭഗവാൻ പ്രദോഷം (സന്ധ്യ) വിരാജിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• prakāśa-candra-udaya-naṣṭa-doṣaḥ: whose darkness is destroyed by the rise of the bright moon
• prakāśa-candra-udaya-naṣṭa-doṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prakāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + candra (प्रातिपदिक) + udaya (प्रातिपदिक) + naṣṭa (कृदन्त) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘darkness (doṣa) destroyed (naṣṭa) by the rise (udaya) of the radiant moon’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• pravṛtta-rakṣaḥ: with rākṣasas set in motion
• pravṛtta-rakṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravṛtta (कृदन्त) + rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: ‘active/roaming rākṣasa’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• piśitāśa-doṣaḥ: having the ‘flesh-eater’ darkness/evil
• piśitāśa-doṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: piśitāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘darkness/evil connected with flesh-eaters’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rāmābhirāma-erita-citta-doṣaḥ: whose mind’s impulses are stirred by love of women
• rāmābhirāma-erita-citta-doṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāmābhirāma (प्रातिपदिक) + erita (कृदन्त) + citta (प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘darkness/defect of mind stirred (erita) by delight in women (rāmābhirāma)’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• svarga-prakāśaḥ: heaven-bright
• svarga-prakāśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक) + prakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘heaven-like radiance’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bhagavān: glorious
• bhagavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• pradoṣaḥ: dusk/evening
• pradoṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

At the time of moon-rise, the darkness of dusk is dispelled, the dark deeds of cannibals disappear, the natural instinct for love returns to women as the radiance of the Moon spreads everywhere like in heaven.

Characters & Entities

• candra (Moon)
• rākṣasa (night-rangers)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts light that removes darkness with beings who still choose harmful action. Dharma is not merely external brightness; it is the choice to act rightly even when night permits concealment—satya and self-restraint remain decisive.

What is the narrative situation?

As moonrise transforms dusk, the city’s nocturnal patterns begin: ordinary domestic life and desire awaken, and rākṣasas begin their night activity—an ominous backdrop for Hanumān’s search.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vigilance and moral clarity: the setting warns that darkness can return through conduct, so a dharmic agent must remain alert and truthful in intention.