Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 13

पुष्पकविमानवर्णनम्

Description of the Pushpaka Vimana and Ravana’s Inner Palace

Devanagari script

ईहामृगसमायुक्त्तै: कार्तस्वरहिरमण्मयैः।सुकृतैराचितं स्तम्भैः प्रदीप्तमिव च श्रिया।।5.9.13।।मेरुमन्दरसङ्काशैरुल्लिखद्भिरिवाम्बरं।कूटागारैश्शुभाकारैस्सर्वतस्समलङ्कृतम्।।5.9.14।।

Transliteration

īhā-mṛga-samāyuktaiḥ kārtasvara-hiraṇmayaiḥ |

su-kṛtair ācitaṃ stambhaiḥ pradīptam iva ca śriyā ||

meru-mandara-saṅkāśair ullikhadbhir ivāmbaraṃ |

kūṭāgāraiḥ śubhākāraiḥ sarvatas samalaṅkṛtam ||

Translation

It was upheld by finely wrought pillars of kārtasvara and hiraṇmaya gold, set with īhāmṛga figures, and it seemed to blaze with splendour. With lofty pavilions of auspicious form—like Meru and Mandara themselves—it appeared as though it were scraping the sky, adorned on every side.

Word by Word

• ईहामृगसमायुक्तैः: with (pillars) furnished with decorative animal-figures
• ईहामृगसमायुक्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईहामृग + समायुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्-आ-√युज् (धातु))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual with स्तम्भैः), तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः: ईहामृगैः समायुक्तैः

• कार्तस्वरहिरण्मयैः: made of k
  01rtasvara and hira 47maya gold
• कार्तस्वरहिरण्मयैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्तस्वर + हिरण्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः: कार्तस्वर-हिरण्मय (two kinds of gold)

• सुकृतैः: well-crafted
• सुकृतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु))
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP used adjectivally), तृतीया, बहुवचन; स्तम्भैः विशेषण

• आचितम्: filled/covered
• आचितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ-√चि (धातु))
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (विमानम्/वेश्म) विशेषण

• स्तम्भैः: with pillars
• स्तम्भैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• प्रदीप्तम्: blazing/shining
• प्रदीप्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रदीप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; प्र-√दीप् (धातु))
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (विमानम्/वेश्म) विशेषण

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• श्रिया: with splendour
• श्रिया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; हेतु/साधनभाव (by/with splendour)

Context

There was a wonderful aerial chariot called Pushpaka embellished with all kinds of gems built by Visvakarma for Brahma. It was the same one that Kubera had won from his grandfather, the creator Brahma, through his supreme penance. The lord of ogres acquired it (as a memento for his victory) by defeating Kubera with his might.

Characters & Entities

• Puṣpaka (vimāna)
• Meru
• Mandara

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse underscores that external prosperity (śrī) can be dazzling, but Ramayana ethics asks whether such prosperity is upheld by dharma. Splendour is not proof of righteousness; it can also decorate an unrighteous regime.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration continues describing Puṣpaka’s magnificent structure—its golden pillars, mythic motifs, and sky-scraping pavilions—as Hanumān surveys the palace environs.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discrimination (viveka) is implied: the listener is guided to distinguish between appearance (splendour) and moral worth (dharma), a key Ramayana lesson.