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Shloka 9

चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम्

Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita

तन्त्रीस्वनाः कर्णसुखाः प्रवृत्ताः स्वपन्ति नार्यः पतिभिः सुवृत्ताः।नक्तंचराश्चापि तथा प्रवृत्ता: विहर्तुमत्यद्भुतरौद्रवृत्ताः।।5.5.9।।

tantrī-svanāḥ karṇa-sukhāḥ pravṛttāḥ svapanti nāryaḥ patibhiḥ su-vṛttāḥ | naktaṃ-carāś cāpi tathā pravṛttā vihartum aty-adbhuta-raudra-vṛttāḥ || 5.5.9 ||

تنتری سازوں کی آوازیں کانوں کو بھلی لگنے لگیں؛ نیک سیرت عورتیں اپنے شوہروں کے پہلو میں سو گئیں؛ اور اسی طرح رات کے بھٹکنے والے بھی نکل پڑے، جن کے کرتوت عجیب مگر نہایت ہیبت ناک اور سنگ دل تھے۔

tantrī-svanāḥstring-instrument sounds
tantrī-svanāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottantrī (प्रातिपदिक) + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: ‘sounds of string-instruments’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
karṇa-sukhāḥpleasing to the ears
karṇa-sukhāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: ‘pleasant to the ear’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
pravṛttāḥbegun
pravṛttāḥ:
Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpra-vṛt (धातु) → pravṛtta (कृदन्त)
FormKta (PPP); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘set in motion/started’
svapantisleep
svapanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsvap (धातु)
FormLaṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana
nāryaḥwomen
nāryaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootnārī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
patibhiḥwith (their) husbands
patibhiḥ:
Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
TypeNoun
Rootpati (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (तृतीया/3rd), Bahuvacana
su-vṛttāḥvirtuous/chaste
su-vṛttāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsu (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vṛtta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
FormKarmadhāraya: ‘well-conducted/chaste’; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana (agreeing with nāryaḥ)
naktaṃ-carāḥnight-walkers (demons)
naktaṃ-carāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootnaktaṃ (अव्यय) + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAvyayībhāva: ‘night-walker’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction
apialso
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormParticle ‘also’
tathālikewise
tathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
FormAdverb ‘likewise’
pravṛttāḥset forth
pravṛttāḥ:
Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpra-vṛt (धातु) → pravṛtta (कृदन्त)
FormKta (PPP); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
vihartumto sport/roam
vihartum:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvi-hṛ (धातु)
FormTumun-infinitive (तुमुन्); purpose (प्रयोजन)
ati-adbhuta-raudra-vṛttāḥof exceedingly wondrous and fierce conduct
ati-adbhuta-raudra-vṛttāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootati (अव्यय) + adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक) + raudra (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
FormKarmadhāraya (multi-member): ‘exceedingly-wondrous and fierce in conduct’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana (qualifying naktaṃ-carāḥ)

Pleasing sounds of string instruments had begun to be heard. Chaste women were found asleep with their husbands.The night-rangers had begun their strange (evil and cruel) deeds exhibiting their anger.

FAQs

Dharma is shown as good conduct in private life (su-vṛtta) contrasted with cruel nocturnal wrongdoing. The verse implies that righteousness is recognized by consistent behavior, not by spectacle.

Night life in Laṅkā is described: music and household rest occur alongside the ominous movement of violent night-wanderers, heightening tension for Hanumān’s covert mission.

Discernment: the ability to distinguish ordinary human virtue from predatory cruelty, essential for navigating Laṅkā without compromising the mission.