The Moon Over Lanka

Shloka 1 (sundara.5.1)

ततः स मध्यंगतमंशुमन्तं । ज्योत्स्नावितानम् महदुद्वमन्तम् । ददर्श धीमान् दिवि भानुमन्तम् । गोष्ठे वृषं मत्तमिव भ्रामन्तम् ॥ 5.1 ॥

tataḥ sa madhyaṃgatamaṃśumantaṃ | jyotsnāvitānam mahadudvamantam | dadarśa dhīmān divi bhānumantam | goṣṭhe vṛṣaṃ mattamiva bhrāmantam || 5.1 ||

Thereafter the wise Hanuman saw in the sky the moon, having reached the midst of heaven, pouring out a great canopy of moonlight, like a rutting bull roaming among the cows in a cow-pen.

Shloka 2 (sundara.5.2)

लोकस्य पापानि विनाशयन्तम् । महोदधिं चापि समेधयन्तम् । भूतानि सर्वाणि विराजयन्तम् । ददर्श शीतांशुमथाभियान्तम् ॥ 5.2 ॥

lokasya pāpāni vināśayantam | mahodadhiṃ cāpi samedhayantam | bhūtāni sarvāṇi virājayantam | dadarśa śītāṃśumathābhiyāntam || 5.2 ||

Then he saw the moon rising further, dispelling the sins of the world, swelling the great ocean, and making all living beings glow with its light.

Shloka 3 (sundara.5.3)

या भाति लक्ष्मीर्भुवि मन्दरस्था । तथा प्रदोषेषु च सागरस्था । तथैव तोयेषु च पुष्करस्था । रराज सा चारुनिशाकरस्था ॥ 5.3 ॥

yā bhāti lakṣmīrbhuvi mandarasthā | tathā pradoṣeṣu ca sāgarasthā | tathaiva toyeṣu ca puṣkarasthā | rarāja sā cāruniśākarasthā || 5.3 ||

Whatever splendour shines upon Mount Mandara on earth, upon the ocean at dusk, and upon the lotuses in the waters -- that same beauty shone upon the lovely moon.

Shloka 4 (sundara.5.4)

हंसो यथा राजतपञ्जरसथः । सिम्हो यथा मन्दरकन्दरस्थः । वीरो यथा गर्वितकुञ्जरस्थ । श्चन्द्रो विबभ्राज तथामभरस्थः ॥ 5.4 ॥

haṃso yathā rājatapañjarasathaḥ | simho yathā mandarakandarasthaḥ | vīro yathā garvitakuñjarastha | ścandro vibabhrāja tathāmabharasthaḥ || 5.4 ||

Like a swan in a silver cage, like a lion in a mountain cave, like a hero mounted upon a proud elephant -- so did the moon shine forth in the sky.

Shloka 5 (sundara.5.5)

स्थितह् ककुद्मानिव तीक्ष्णशृङ्गो । महाचलः श्वेत इवोच्चशृङ्गः । हस्तीव जाम्बूनदबद्धश्^इङ्गो । रराज चन्द्रह् परिपूर्णशृङ्गः ॥ 5.5 ॥

sthitah kakudmāniva tīkṣṇaśṛṅgo | mahācalaḥ śveta ivoccaśṛṅgaḥ | hastīva jāmbūnadabaddhaś^iṅgo | rarāja candrah paripūrṇaśṛṅgaḥ || 5.5 ||

The full moon, its mark like a horn, shone like a standing bull with a sharp horn and high hump, like a great white mountain with towering peaks, like an elephant with tusks of gold.

Shloka 6 (sundara.5.6)

विनष्टशीताम्बुतुषारपङ्को । महाग्रहग्राहविनष्टपङ्कः । प्रकाशलक्ष्म्याश्रयनिर्मलाङ्को । रराज चन्द्रो भगवान् शशाङ्कः ॥ 5.6 ॥

vinaṣṭaśītāmbutuṣārapaṅko | mahāgrahagrāhavinaṣṭapaṅkaḥ | prakāśalakṣmyāśrayanirmalāṅko | rarāja candro bhagavān śaśāṅkaḥ || 5.6 ||

The divine moon, freed from the stain of cold mist and frost, its blemish washed away as though by the great eclipse, its clear mark now an abode of radiant splendour, bearing the sign of the hare, shone forth in brilliance.

Shloka 7 (sundara.5.7)

शीलातलम् प्राप्य यथा मृगेन्द्रो । महारणम् प्राप्य यथा गजेन्द्रह् । राज्यम् समासाद्य यथा नरेन्द्र । स्तथाप्रकाशो विरराज चन्द्रः ॥ 5.7 ॥

śīlātalam prāpya yathā mṛgendro | mahāraṇam prāpya yathā gajendrah | rājyam samāsādya yathā narendra | stathāprakāśo virarāja candraḥ || 5.7 ||

As a lion shines on gaining a level rock, as a great elephant shines on entering a mighty battle, as a king shines on gaining his kingdom -- so shone the clear and radiant moon.

Shloka 8 (sundara.5.8)

प्रकाशचन्द्रोदयनष्टदोषः । प्रवृत्तरक्षः पिशिताशदोषः । रामाभिरामेरितचित्तदोषः । स्वर्गप्रकाशो भगवान् प्रदोषः ॥ 5.8 ॥

prakāśacandrodayanaṣṭadoṣaḥ | pravṛttarakṣaḥ piśitāśadoṣaḥ | rāmābhirāmeritacittadoṣaḥ | svargaprakāśo bhagavān pradoṣaḥ || 5.8 ||

The divine evening, its darkness dispelled by the rising, radiant moon, still touched by the taint of flesh-eating demons at their meal, yet the hour in which the bitterness in lovers' hearts is washed away, took on a heavenly glow.

Shloka 9 (sundara.5.9)

तन्त्रीस्वनाह् कर्णसुखाः प्रवृत्ताः । स्वपन्ति नार्यः पतिभिः सुवृत्ताः । नक्तंचराश्चापि तथा प्रवृत्ता । विहर्तुमत्यद्भुतरौद्रवृत्ताः ॥ 5.9 ॥

tantrīsvanāh karṇasukhāḥ pravṛttāḥ | svapanti nāryaḥ patibhiḥ suvṛttāḥ | naktaṃcarāścāpi tathā pravṛttā | vihartumatyadbhutaraudravṛttāḥ || 5.9 ||

Notes from stringed instruments, soothing to the ear, began to sound. Virtuous women lay sleeping beside their husbands, while the night-wandering rakshasas, of strange and terrible nature, set out to roam.

Shloka 10 (sundara.5.10)

मत्तप्रमत्तानि समाकुलानि । तथाश्वभद्रासनसम्कुलानि । वीरः श्रिया चापि समाकुलानि । ददर्श धीमान् स कपिः कुलानि ॥ 5.10 ॥

mattapramattāni samākulāni | tathāśvabhadrāsanasamkulāni | vīraḥ śriyā cāpi samākulāni | dadarśa dhīmān sa kapiḥ kulāni || 5.10 ||

That wise and valiant monkey saw households crowded with the impassioned and intoxicated, filled with chariots, horses and fine seats, and overflowing with splendour.

Shloka 11 (sundara.5.11)

परस्परं चाधिकमाक्षिपन्ति । भुआंश्च पीनानधिनिक्षिपन्ति । मत्तप्रलापानधिकम् क्षिपन्ति । मत्तानि चान्योन्यमधिक्षिपन्ति ॥ 5.11 ॥

parasparaṃ cādhikamākṣipanti | bhuāṃśca pīnānadhinikṣipanti | mattapralāpānadhikam kṣipanti | mattāni cānyonyamadhikṣipanti || 5.11 ||

He saw rakshasas hurling abuse at one another, tossing their heavy arms about, babbling drunken nonsense, and insulting each other in their intoxication.

Shloka 12 (sundara.5.12)

रक्षांसि वक्षांसि च विक्षिपन्ति । गात्राणि कान्तासु च विक्षिपन्ति । रूपाअणि चित्राणि च विक्षिपन्ति । दृढानि चापानि च विक्षिपन्ति ॥ 5.12 ॥

rakṣāṃsi vakṣāṃsi ca vikṣipanti | gātrāṇi kāntāsu ca vikṣipanti | rūpāaṇi citrāṇi ca vikṣipanti | dṛḍhāni cāpāni ca vikṣipanti || 5.12 ||

He saw rakshasas beating their chests, flinging their limbs about upon women, displaying their strange and fantastic forms, and brandishing their mighty bows.

Shloka 13 (sundara.5.13)

ददर्श कान्ताश्च समालभन्त्य । स्तथा परास्तत्र पुनः स्वपन्त्यः । सुरूपवक्त्राश्च तथा हसन्त्यः । क्रुद्धाः पराश्चपि विनिःश्वसन्त्यः ॥ 5.13 ॥

dadarśa kāntāśca samālabhantya | stathā parāstatra punaḥ svapantyaḥ | surūpavaktrāśca tathā hasantyaḥ | kruddhāḥ parāścapi viniḥśvasantyaḥ || 5.13 ||

He saw some women anointing their bodies with sandal paste, others sleeping nearby, some of lovely face smiling, and others sighing bitterly in anger.

Shloka 14 (sundara.5.14)

महागजैश्चापि तथा नदद्भिः । सुपूजितैश्चापि तथा सुसद्भिः । रराज वीरैश्च विनिःश्वसद्भि । र्ह्रदो भुजङ्गैरिव निःश्वसद्भिः ॥ 5.14 ॥

mahāgajaiścāpi tathā nadadbhiḥ | supūjitaiścāpi tathā susadbhiḥ | rarāja vīraiśca viniḥśvasadbhi | rhrado bhujaṅgairiva niḥśvasadbhiḥ || 5.14 ||

Likewise Lanka shone with mighty trumpeting elephants and with well-honoured noblemen; it echoed with the long sighs of warriors, like a lake hissing with serpents.

Shloka 15 (sundara.5.15)

बुद्धिप्रधानान् रुचिराभिधानान् । संश्रद्दधानान् जगतः प्रधानान् । नानाविधानान् रुचिराभिधानान् । ददर्श तस्याम् पुरि यातुधानान् ॥ 5.15 ॥

buddhipradhānān rucirābhidhānān | saṃśraddadhānān jagataḥ pradhānān | nānāvidhānān rucirābhidhānān | dadarśa tasyām puri yātudhānān || 5.15 ||

In that city he saw rakshasas of many kinds -- men of intellect, eloquent speakers, the devout, those held foremost in the world, and those known by beautiful names.

Shloka 16 (sundara.5.16)

ननन्द दृष्ट्वा स च तान् सुरूपा । न्नानागुणानात्मगुणानुरूपान् । विद्योतमानान्स तदानुरूपान् । ददर्श कांश्चिच्च पुनर्विरूपान् ॥ 5.16 ॥

nananda dṛṣṭvā sa ca tān surūpā | nnānāguṇānātmaguṇānurūpān | vidyotamānānsa tadānurūpān | dadarśa kāṃścicca punarvirūpān || 5.16 ||

Seeing those of handsome form, of varied virtue befitting their nature, resplendent, he rejoiced; and then he also saw some others who were hideous in appearance.

Shloka 17 (sundara.5.17)

ततो वरार्हः सुविशुद्धभावा । स्तेषाम् स्त्रियस्तत्र महानुभावाह् । प्रियेषु पानेषु च सक्तभावा । ददर्श ताराइव सुप्रभावाः ॥ 5.17 ॥

tato varārhaḥ suviśuddhabhāvā | steṣām striyastatra mahānubhāvāh | priyeṣu pāneṣu ca saktabhāvā | dadarśa tārāiva suprabhāvāḥ || 5.17 ||

Thereafter he saw the women there -- worthy of high regard, of great accomplishment, given over to love and wine, shining like stars in their brilliance.

Shloka 18 (sundara.5.18)

श्रिया ज्वलन्तीस्त्रपयोगूढा । निशीथकाले रमणोपगूढाः । ददर्श काश्चित्प्रमदोपगूढा । यथा विहङ्गाः कुसुमोपगूढाः ॥ 5.18 ॥

śriyā jvalantīstrapayogūḍhā | niśīthakāle ramaṇopagūḍhāḥ | dadarśa kāścitpramadopagūḍhā | yathā vihaṅgāḥ kusumopagūḍhāḥ || 5.18 ||

He saw some women, radiant with beauty and shy grace, held close by their lovers in the depth of night, embraced with great delight, like birds nestled among flowers.

Shloka 19 (sundara.5.19)

अन्याः पुनर्हर्म्यतलोपविष्टा । स्तत्र प्रियाङ्केषु सुखोपविष्टाः । भर्तुः प्रिया धर्मपरा निविष्टा । ददर्श धीमान् मदनाभिविष्टाः ॥ 5.19 ॥

anyāḥ punarharmyatalopaviṣṭā | statra priyāṅkeṣu sukhopaviṣṭāḥ | bhartuḥ priyā dharmaparā niviṣṭā | dadarśa dhīmān madanābhiviṣṭāḥ || 5.19 ||

Others sat comfortably upon the laps of their lovers atop the terraces of their mansions; some, dear to their husbands, were devoted to righteous conduct, while others were overcome by the god of love.

Shloka 20 (sundara.5.20)

अप्रावृताः काञ्चनराजिवर्णाः । काश्चित्परार्थ्यास्तपनीयवर्णाः । पुनश्च काश्चिच्छशलक्ष्मवर्णाः । कान्तप्रहीणारुचिराङ्गवर्णाः ॥ 5.20 ॥

aprāvṛtāḥ kāñcanarājivarṇāḥ | kāścitparārthyāstapanīyavarṇāḥ | punaśca kāścicchaśalakṣmavarṇāḥ | kāntaprahīṇārucirāṅgavarṇāḥ || 5.20 ||

Some women of golden hue lay unclad, others of the colour of refined gold, ready for union with their lovers, and yet others of moonlike complexion, with lovely limbs, but bereft of any lover.

Shloka 21 (sundara.5.21)

ततह् प्रियान् प्राप्य मनोभिरामान् । सुप्रीतियुक्ताः सुमनोभिरामाः । गृहेषु हृष्टाः परमाभिरामाः । हरिप्रवीरः स ददर्श रामाः ॥ 5.21 ॥

tatah priyān prāpya manobhirāmān | suprītiyuktāḥ sumanobhirāmāḥ | gṛheṣu hṛṣṭāḥ paramābhirāmāḥ | haripravīraḥ sa dadarśa rāmāḥ || 5.21 ||

Thereafter that foremost of vanaras saw women who, having gained lovers who delighted their hearts, charming as flowers, of surpassing beauty, rejoiced within their homes.

Shloka 22 (sundara.5.22)

चन्द्रप्रकाशाश्च हि वक्त्रमाला । वक्राक्षिपक्ष्माश्च सुनेत्रमालाः । विभूषाणानाम् च ददर्श मालाः । शतह्रदानामिव चारुमालाः ॥ 5.22 ॥

candraprakāśāśca hi vaktramālā | vakrākṣipakṣmāśca sunetramālāḥ | vibhūṣāṇānām ca dadarśa mālāḥ | śatahradānāmiva cārumālāḥ || 5.22 ||

He saw rows of faces glowing like the moon, lovely rows of eyes beneath curved brows, and rows of ornaments as beautiful as streaks of lightning.

Shloka 23 (sundara.5.23)

न त्वेव सीताम् परमाभिजाताम् । पथि स्थिते राजकुले प्रजाताम् । लताम् प्रपुल्लामिव साधु जाताम् । ददर्श तन्वीम् मनसाभिजाताम् ॥ 5.23 ॥

na tveva sītām paramābhijātām | pathi sthite rājakule prajātām | latām prapullāmiva sādhu jātām | dadarśa tanvīm manasābhijātām || 5.23 ||

But nowhere did he see Sita -- she of the most exalted birth, born into a royal house, ever walking the path of virtue, gently reared like a creeper newly in bloom, slender of form, noble in mind.

Shloka 24 (sundara.5.24)

सनातने वर्त्मानि सम्निविष्टाम् । रामेक्षणां तां मदनाभिविष्टाम् । भर्तुर्मनः श्रीमदनुप्रविष्टाम् । स्त्रीभ्यो वराभ्यश्च सदा विशिष्टाम् ॥ 5.24 ॥

sanātane vartmāni samniviṣṭām | rāmekṣaṇāṃ tāṃ madanābhiviṣṭām | bharturmanaḥ śrīmadanupraviṣṭām | strībhyo varābhyaśca sadā viśiṣṭām || 5.24 ||

He did not see her, ever established in the eternal path of righteousness, her eyes fixed on Rama, possessed by love for him, who had entered wholly into the glorious heart of her husband, ever foremost among the finest of women.

Shloka 25 (sundara.5.25)

उष्णार्दिताम् सानुसृतास्रकण्ठीम् । पुरा वरार्होत्तमनिष्ककण्ठीम् । सुजातपक्ष्मामभिरक्तकण्ठीम् । वनेऽप्रनृत्तामिव नीलकण्ठीम् ॥ 5.25 ॥

uṣṇārditām sānusṛtāsrakaṇṭhīm | purā varārhottamaniṣkakaṇṭhīm | sujātapakṣmāmabhiraktakaṇṭhīm | vane'pranṛttāmiva nīlakaṇṭhīm || 5.25 ||

He did not see her, tormented by the anguish of separation, tears ever streaming at her throat, who once wore priceless and matchless jewels there, of finely formed brows and sweet voice, now like a peahen that dances no more in the forest.

Shloka 26 (sundara.5.26)

अव्यक्तरेखामिव चन्द्ररेखां । पांसुप्रदिग्धामिव हेमरेखाम् । क्षतप्ररूढामिव बाणरेखां । वायुप्रभिन्नामिव मेघरेक्षाम् ॥ 5.26 ॥

avyaktarekhāmiva candrarekhāṃ | pāṃsupradigdhāmiva hemarekhām | kṣataprarūḍhāmiva bāṇarekhāṃ | vāyuprabhinnāmiva megharekṣām || 5.26 ||

He did not see her -- like a crescent moon whose outline has grown faint, like a streak of gold covered over with dust, like the mark of an arrow within a wound, like a bank of clouds scattered by the wind.

Shloka 27 (sundara.5.27)

सीतामपश्यन् मनुजेश्वरस्य । रामस्य पत्नीम् वदताम् वरस्य । बभूव दुःखाभिहतश्चिरस्य । प्लवङ्गमो मन्द इवाचिरस्य ॥ 5.27 ॥

sītāmapaśyan manujeśvarasya | rāmasya patnīm vadatām varasya | babhūva duḥkhābhihataścirasya | plavaṅgamo manda ivācirasya || 5.27 ||

Not finding Sita, wife of Rama, lord of men and foremost among the eloquent, that monkey, for a while, was struck with grief and stood as if his mind had gone numb.