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 ||
Như sư tử chúa rực rỡ khi lên đỉnh đá, như voi chúa oai nghi khi vào rừng sâu, như bậc quân vương sáng ngời khi được ngai vàng—cũng vậy, vầng trăng bừng chiếu, huy hoàng rạng rỡ.
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.
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.