Shloka 1
चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम्
Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita
ततः स मध्यंगतमंशुमन्तं ज्योत्स्नावितानं महदुद्वमन्तम्।ददर्श धीमान् दिवि भानुमन्तं गोष्ठे वृषं मत्तमिव भ्रमन्तम्।।5.5.1।।
tataḥ sa madhyaṅgatam aṁśumantaṁ jyotsnāvitānaṁ mahad udvamantam |
dadarśa dhīmān divi bhānumantaṁ goṣṭhe vṛṣaṁ mattam iva bhramantam ||5.5.1||
ततः धीमान् हनुमान् मध्यंगतमंशुमन्तं महद् ज्योत्स्नावितानम् उद्वमन्तं दिवि भानुमन्तं गोष्ठे मत्तं वृषमिव भ्रमन्तं शशिनं ददर्श।
Then intelligent Hanuman observed the Moon in the central part of the sky spreading a canopy of his luminescence like the Sun, and looking like an intoxicated mighty (white) bull moving in a stable.
FAQs
The verse supports dharma indirectly by portraying Hanumān’s disciplined vigilance: even amid beauty and wonder, he stays focused on his righteous mission (seeking Sītā for Rāma).
At night in Laṅkā, Hanumān looks upward and notes the moon at mid-sky, whose light aids his careful reconnaissance.
Alertness and steadiness of purpose (dhīmatva): Hanumān observes keenly, using the environment to proceed effectively in service of dharma.