Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 16: Lakṣmaṇa’s Description of Winter
Text 3.16.14
ज्योत्स्नी तुषारमलिना पौर्णमास्यां न राजते।
सीतेव चातपश्यामा लक्ष्यते न तु शोभते॥
jyotsnī tuṣāra-malinā paurṇamāsyāṁ na rājate
sīteva cātapa-śyāmā lakṣyate na tu śobhate
jyotsnī = the moonlit night; tuṣāra-malinā = contaminated by snow; paurṇamāsyām = even on the Pūrṇimā; na = not; rājate = does shine; sītā = Sītā-devī; iva = seems; ca = and; ātapa-śyāmā = devoid of its [natural] complexion, such a night; lakṣyate = to resemble; na = not; tu śobhate = does look beautiful.
Even on Pūrṇimā, the moonlit night contaminated by snow does not shine, and does not look beautiful. Devoid of its [natural] complexion, such a night seems to resemble Sītā-devī.
The winter night seems to resemble Sītā-devī, that is, it does not shine.
This verse has a literary ornamentation presenting a contrast 5.