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VĀLMĪKI RĀMĀYAṆA · CHAPTER 05
सुन्दरकाण्डम् · सर्गः ५
Moonlight reveals the homes of Lanka while Hanuman continues looking for Sita.
An edition-specific reading with original English meanings. Source & reading notes
SCENE 01 · VERSES 1–27
Moonlight reveals the homes of Lanka while Hanuman continues looking for Sita.
ततः स मध्यंगतमंशुमन्तं
tataḥ sa madhyaṃgatamaṃśumantaṃ
Then he saw the radiant moon high in the sky,
ज्योत्स्नावितानं मुहुरुद्वमन्तम् ।
jyotsnāvitānaṃ muhurudvamantam |
repeatedly spreading its canopy of moonlight.
ददर्श धीमान् भुवि भानुमन्तं
dadarśa dhīmān bhuvi bhānumantaṃ
The thoughtful one saw it shining upon the earth,
गोष्ठे वृषं मत्तमिव भ्रमन्तम् ॥
goṣṭhe vṛṣaṃ mattamiva bhramantam ||
moving like a proud bull within its enclosure.
लोकस्य पापानि विनाशयन्तं
lokasya pāpāni vināśayantaṃ
Dispelling the world's darkness and evil,
महोदधिं चापि समेधयन्तम् ।
mahodadhiṃ cāpi samedhayantam |
causing the great ocean to swell,
भूतानि सर्वाणि विराजयन्तं
bhūtāni sarvāṇi virājayantaṃ
and lending beauty to every creature,
ददर्श शीतांशुमथाभियान्तम् ॥
dadarśa śītāṃśumathābhiyāntam ||
the cool-rayed moon rose before him.
या भाति लक्ष्मीर्भुवि मन्दरस्था
yā bhāti lakṣmīrbhuvi mandarasthā
The beauty that shines on Mount Mandara,
यथा प्रदोषेषु च सागरस्था ।
yathā pradoṣeṣu ca sāgarasthā |
or rests upon the ocean at dusk,
तथैव तोयेषु च पुष्करस्था
tathaiva toyeṣu ca puṣkarasthā
or gleams upon lotuses in the water,
रराज सा चारुनिशाकरस्था ॥
rarāja sā cāruniśākarasthā ||
now shone in the lovely maker of night.
हंसो यथा राजतपञ्जरस्थः
haṃso yathā rājatapañjarasthaḥ
Like a swan in a silver cage,
सिंहो यथा मन्दरकन्दरस्थः ।
siṃho yathā mandarakandarasthaḥ |
like a lion in a cave of Mandara,
वीरो यथा गर्वितकुञ्जरस्थ-
vīro yathā garvitakuñjarastha-
like a hero seated on a proud elephant,
श्चन्द्रोऽपि बभ्राज तथाम्बरस्थः ॥
ścandro’pi babhrāja tathāmbarasthaḥ ||
the moon shone in the sky.
स्थितः ककुद्मानिव तीक्ष्णशृङ्गो
sthitaḥ kakudmāniva tīkṣṇaśṛṅgo
Like a hump-backed bull with sharp horns,
महाचलः श्वेत इवोर्ध्वशृङ्गः ।
mahācalaḥ śveta ivordhvaśṛṅgaḥ |
like a white mountain with lofty peaks,
हस्तीव जाम्बूनदबद्धशृङ्गो
hastīva jāmbūnadabaddhaśṛṅgo
like an elephant with gold-adorned tusks,
विभाति चन्द्रः परिपूर्णशृङ्गः ॥
vibhāti candraḥ paripūrṇaśṛṅgaḥ ||
the moon shone with its full, rounded form.
विनष्टशीताम्बुतुषारपङ्को
vinaṣṭaśītāmbutuṣārapaṅko
Free from the dimness of cold mist and dew,
महाग्रहग्राहविनष्टपङ्कः ।
mahāgrahagrāhavinaṣṭapaṅkaḥ |
free from the obscuring grasp of a great planet,
प्रकाशलक्ष्म्याश्रयनिर्मलाङ्को
prakāśalakṣmyāśrayanirmalāṅko
its clear markings supporting a wealth of light,
रराज चन्द्रो भगवान् शशाङ्कः ॥
rarāja candro bhagavān śaśāṅkaḥ ||
the blessed moon, marked with the hare, shone brightly.
शिलातलं प्राप्य यथा मृगेन्द्रो
śilātalaṃ prāpya yathā mṛgendro
Like a lion that has reached a rocky ledge,
महारणं प्राप्य यथा गजेन्द्रः ।
mahāraṇaṃ prāpya yathā gajendraḥ |
like a lordly elephant entering a great battlefield,
राज्यं समासाद्य यथा नरेन्द्र-
rājyaṃ samāsādya yathā narendra-
like a king who has attained his kingdom,
स्तथा प्रकाशो विरराज चन्द्रः ॥
stathā prakāśo virarāja candraḥ ||
the brilliant moon shone in its glory.
प्रकाशचन्द्रोदयनष्टदोषः
prakāśacandrodayanaṣṭadoṣaḥ
The bright moonrise had dispelled the darkness,
प्रवृद्धरक्षःपिशिताशदोषः ।
pravṛddharakṣaḥpiśitāśadoṣaḥ |
while the activity of flesh-eating rakshasas increased.
रामाभिरामेरितचित्तदोषः
rāmābhirāmeritacittadoṣaḥ
Beautiful women stirred their lovers' minds;
स्वर्गप्रकाशो भगवान् प्रदोषः ॥
svargaprakāśo bhagavān pradoṣaḥ ||
the splendid evening glowed like heaven.
तन्त्रीस्वराः कर्णसुखाः प्रवृत्ताः
tantrīsvarāḥ karṇasukhāḥ pravṛttāḥ
Sweet notes of stringed instruments arose;
स्वपन्ति नार्यः पतिभिः सुवृत्ताः ।
svapanti nāryaḥ patibhiḥ suvṛttāḥ |
virtuous women slept beside their husbands.
नक्तंचराश्चापि तथा प्रवृत्ता
naktaṃcarāścāpi tathā pravṛttā
Meanwhile creatures of the night set out
विहर्तुमत्यद्भुतरौद्रवृत्ताः ॥
vihartumatyadbhutaraudravṛttāḥ ||
to wander, with strange and fearsome habits.
मत्तप्रमत्तानि समाकुलानि
mattapramattāni samākulāni
Some households were crowded with drunken and excited people,
रथाश्वभद्रासनसंकुलानि ।
rathāśvabhadrāsanasaṃkulāni |
and filled with chariots, horses, and fine seats.
वीरश्रिया चापि समाकुलानि
vīraśriyā cāpi samākulāni
They also displayed the splendor of warriors;
ददर्श धीमान् स कपिः कुलानि ॥
dadarśa dhīmān sa kapiḥ kulāni ||
the thoughtful vanara observed these families.
परस्परं चाधिकमाक्षिपन्ति
parasparaṃ cādhikamākṣipanti
They loudly taunted one another,
भुजांश्च पीनानधिविक्षिपन्ति ।
bhujāṃśca pīnānadhivikṣipanti |
flung about their powerful arms,
मत्तप्रलापानधिविक्षिपन्ति
mattapralāpānadhivikṣipanti
poured out drunken talk,
मत्तानि चान्योन्यमधिक्षिपन्ति ॥
mattāni cānyonyamadhikṣipanti ||
and insulted each other in their intoxication.
रक्षांसि वक्षांसि च विक्षिपन्ति
rakṣāṃsi vakṣāṃsi ca vikṣipanti
Rakshasas thrust out their chests,
गात्राणि कान्तासु च विक्षिपन्ति ।
gātrāṇi kāntāsu ca vikṣipanti |
leaned their bodies against their beloveds,
रूपाणि चित्राणि च विक्षिपन्ति
rūpāṇi citrāṇi ca vikṣipanti
displayed their varied forms,
दृढानि चापानि च विक्षिपन्ति ॥
dṛḍhāni cāpāni ca vikṣipanti ||
and brandished their strong bows.
ददर्श कान्ताश्च समालभन्त्य-
dadarśa kāntāśca samālabhantya-
He saw lovely women applying fragrant ointments;
स्तथापरास्तत्र पुनः स्वपन्त्यः ।
stathāparāstatra punaḥ svapantyaḥ |
he saw others sleeping.
सुरूपवक्त्राश्च तथा हसन्त्यः
surūpavaktrāśca tathā hasantyaḥ
Some with beautiful faces were laughing;
क्रुद्धाः पराश्चापि विनिःश्वसन्त्यः ॥
kruddhāḥ parāścāpi viniḥśvasantyaḥ ||
others sighed angrily.
महागजैश्चापि तथा नदद्भिः
mahāgajaiścāpi tathā nadadbhiḥ
With great elephants trumpeting,
सुपूजितैश्चापि तथा सुसद्भिः ।
supūjitaiścāpi tathā susadbhiḥ |
with honored and distinguished people,
रराज वीरैश्च विनिःश्वसद्भि-
rarāja vīraiśca viniḥśvasadbhi-
and with warriors breathing heavily, the city shone
र्ह्रदा भुजंगैरिव निःश्वसद्भिः ॥
rhradā bhujaṃgairiva niḥśvasadbhiḥ ||
like lakes alive with hissing serpents.
बुद्धिप्रधानान् रुचिराभिधानान्
buddhipradhānān rucirābhidhānān
He saw intelligent men whose speech was pleasing,
संश्रद्दधानाञ्जगतः प्रधानान् ।
saṃśraddadhānāñjagataḥ pradhānān |
faithful people and leaders in their community,
नानाविधानान् रुचिराभिधानान्
nānāvidhānān rucirābhidhānān
of many kinds and attractive names,
ददर्श तस्यां पुरि यातुधानान् ॥
dadarśa tasyāṃ puri yātudhānān ||
among the rakshasas of that city.
ननन्द दृष्ट्वा स च तान् सुरूपान्
nananda dṛṣṭvā sa ca tān surūpān
He was pleased to see handsome figures
नानागुणानात्मगुणानुरूपान् ।
nānāguṇānātmaguṇānurūpān |
possessing varied qualities corresponding to their nature.
विद्योतमानान् स च तान् सुरूपान्
vidyotamānān sa ca tān surūpān
He saw those radiant and beautiful forms,
ददर्श कांश्चिच्च पुनर्विरूपान् ॥
dadarśa kāṃścicca punarvirūpān ||
and also others of distorted appearance.
ततो वरार्हाः सुविशुद्धभावा-
tato varārhāḥ suviśuddhabhāvā-
Then he saw their noble women, worthy of fine things,
स्तेषां स्त्रियस्तत्र महानुभावाः ।
steṣāṃ striyastatra mahānubhāvāḥ |
whose dispositions were pure and whose bearing was dignified.
प्रियेषु पानेषु च सक्तभावा
priyeṣu pāneṣu ca saktabhāvā
Attached to their beloveds and to pleasant drinks,
ददर्श तारा इव सुस्वभावाः ॥
dadarśa tārā iva susvabhāvāḥ ||
they appeared like stars of gracious nature.
स्त्रियो ज्वलन्तीस्त्रपयोपगूढा
striyo jvalantīstrapayopagūḍhā
He saw women glowing beneath a covering of modesty,
निशीथकाले रमणोपगूढाः ।
niśīthakāle ramaṇopagūḍhāḥ |
embraced by their lovers at midnight.
ददर्श काश्चित् प्रमदोपगूढा
dadarśa kāścit pramadopagūḍhā
Some were filled with delight,
यथा विहंगा विहगोपगूढाः ॥
yathā vihaṃgā vihagopagūḍhāḥ ||
like birds nestled close to their mates.
अन्याः पुनर्हर्म्यतलोपविष्टा-
anyāḥ punarharmyatalopaviṣṭā-
Others sat on palace terraces;
स्तत्र प्रियाङ्केषु सुखोपविष्टाः ।
statra priyāṅkeṣu sukhopaviṣṭāḥ |
some rested happily in their beloveds' laps.
भर्तुः परा धर्मपरा निविष्टा
bhartuḥ parā dharmaparā niviṣṭā
Others, devoted to their husbands and to duty, sat nearby;
ददर्श धीमान् मदनोपविष्टाः ॥
dadarśa dhīmān madanopaviṣṭāḥ ||
the thoughtful one saw them moved by love.
अप्रावृताः काञ्चनराजिवर्णाः
aprāvṛtāḥ kāñcanarājivarṇāḥ
Some, uncovered, were golden like streaks of gold;
काश्चित्परार्घ्यास्तपनीयवर्णाः ।
kāścitparārghyāstapanīyavarṇāḥ |
some of great beauty shone like refined gold.
पुनश्च काश्चिच्छशलक्ष्मवर्णाः
punaśca kāścicchaśalakṣmavarṇāḥ
Others had the pale hue of moonlight,
कान्तप्रहीणा रुचिराङ्गवर्णाः ॥
kāntaprahīṇā rucirāṅgavarṇāḥ ||
their lovely forms deprived of their beloveds.
ततः प्रियान् प्राप्य मनोऽभिरामान्
tataḥ priyān prāpya mano’bhirāmān
Having reached their heart-delighting beloveds,
सुप्रीतियुक्ताः सुमनोऽभिरामाः ।
suprītiyuktāḥ sumano’bhirāmāḥ |
filled with deep affection and pleasing thoughts,
गृहेषु हृष्टाः परमाभिरामा
gṛheṣu hṛṣṭāḥ paramābhirāmā
the supremely lovely women rejoiced in their homes;
हरिप्रवीरः स ददर्श रामाः ॥
haripravīraḥ sa dadarśa rāmāḥ ||
the heroic vanara saw them there.
चन्द्रप्रकाशाश्च हि वक्त्रमाला
candraprakāśāśca hi vaktramālā
He saw rows of faces shining like the moon,
वक्राः सुपक्ष्माश्च सुनेत्रमालाः ।
vakrāḥ supakṣmāśca sunetramālāḥ |
lovely eyes with beautiful lashes and curved brows,
विभूषणानां च ददर्श मालाः
vibhūṣaṇānāṃ ca dadarśa mālāḥ
and strings of ornaments,
शतह्रदानामिव चारुमालाः ॥
śatahradānāmiva cārumālāḥ ||
like beautiful chains of lightning.
न त्वेव सीतां परमाभिजातां
na tveva sītāṃ paramābhijātāṃ
But he did not see Sita, of exceptionally noble birth,
पथि स्थिते राजकुले प्रजाताम् ।
pathi sthite rājakule prajātām |
born into a royal family established in righteousness,
लतां प्रफुल्लामिव साधुजातां
latāṃ praphullāmiva sādhujātāṃ
slender as a flourishing, well-grown vine,
ददर्श तन्वीं मनसाभिजाताम् ॥
dadarśa tanvīṃ manasābhijātām ||
and noble in her inward nature.
सनातने वर्त्मनि संनिविष्टां
sanātane vartmani saṃniviṣṭāṃ
She stood firmly upon the ancient path of duty,
रामेक्षणीं तां मदनाभिविष्टाम् ।
rāmekṣaṇīṃ tāṃ madanābhiviṣṭām |
her gaze and longing directed toward Rama.
भर्तुर्मनः श्रीमदनुप्रविष्टां
bharturmanaḥ śrīmadanupraviṣṭāṃ
She had entered her glorious husband's heart
स्त्रीभ्यः पराभ्यश्च सदा विशिष्टाम् ॥
strībhyaḥ parābhyaśca sadā viśiṣṭām ||
and was always distinguished among women.
उष्णार्दितां सानुसृतास्रकण्ठीं
uṣṇārditāṃ sānusṛtāsrakaṇṭhīṃ
Scorched by sorrow, her throat wet with falling tears,
पुरा वरार्होत्तमनिष्ककण्ठीम् ।
purā varārhottamaniṣkakaṇṭhīm |
where once she wore the finest necklace,
सुजातपक्ष्मामभिरक्तकण्ठीं
sujātapakṣmāmabhiraktakaṇṭhīṃ
with lovely eyelashes and a tender voice,
वने प्रनृत्तामिव नीलकण्ठीम् ॥
vane pranṛttāmiva nīlakaṇṭhīm ||
she was like a peahen moving in the forest.
अव्यक्तरेखामिव चन्द्रलेखां
avyaktarekhāmiva candralekhāṃ
Like a faintly visible crescent moon,
पांसुप्रदिग्धामिव हेमरेखाम् ।
pāṃsupradigdhāmiva hemarekhām |
like a streak of gold covered in dust,
क्षतप्ररूढामिव वर्णरेखां
kṣataprarūḍhāmiva varṇarekhāṃ
like a colored line obscured by a healed wound,
वायुप्रभुग्नामिव मेघरेखाम् ॥
vāyuprabhugnāmiva megharekhām ||
like a line of clouds broken by the wind—
सीतामपश्यन्मनुजेश्वरस्य
sītāmapaśyanmanujeśvarasya
Not finding Sita, the wife of the lord of men,
रामस्य पत्नीं वदतां वरस्य ।
rāmasya patnīṃ vadatāṃ varasya |
Rama, foremost among speakers,
बभूव दुःखोपहतश्चिरस्य
babhūva duḥkhopahataścirasya
the vanara was at last overcome with sorrow
प्लवंगमो मन्द इवाचिरस्य ॥
plavaṃgamo manda ivācirasya ||
and for a moment seemed dispirited.
CHAPTER 5 COMPLETE
The city is filled with people, but the one person Hanuman seeks is not among them.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kanda, chapter 5. This reading follows Sanskrit Wikisource revision 354180, with all 27 numbered verses. Verse divisions and wording vary between editions.
The Sanskrit is preserved with normalized display spacing and line breaks. Some sentences continue across verse boundaries; the English follows that continuity. A yojana is a traditional distance unit, retained without assigning a modern measurement. Shape-changing and celestial beings belong to the epic’s sacred narrative.
English line senses and short meanings are original AI-assisted DHIH renderings checked against this Sanskrit reading; they are not a word-for-word grammatical commentary or a claim of human scholarly certification. Roman transliteration is generated mechanically in IAST. Names may also appear in familiar English spellings.
Sanskrit transcription credit: Wikisource contributors, revision history. The adapted reading text and DHIH English on this chapter page are offered under CC BY-SA 4.0. The ancient Sanskrit work is in the public domain. Illustrations are separately commissioned AI-generated DHIH artwork.
Historical comparison: M. N. Dutt’s Ramayana, volume II, a public-domain translation, was consulted for narrative context. The English displayed here is a fresh rendering of the pinned Sanskrit, not a reproduction of that translation.
This full-text chapter includes adult relationships, drinking, and palace life. It is not a children’s adaptation. Audio will be added only when suitable recording permissions are available.