Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 15

पुष्पकविमानवर्णनम्

Description of the Pushpaka Vimana and Ravana’s Inner Palace

Devanagari script

ज्वलनार्कप्रतीकाशं सुकृतं विश्वकर्मणा।हेमसोपानसंयुक्तं चारुप्रवरवेदिकम्।।5.9.15।।

Transliteration

jvalanārkapratīkāśaṃ sukṛtaṃ viśvakarmaṇā |

hemasopānasaṃyuktaṃ cārupravaravedikam ||5.9.15||

Translation

Fashioned with superb skill by Viśvakarman, it shone like fire and the sun, fitted with golden stairways and distinguished by beautiful raised platforms.

Word by Word

• ज्वलनार्कप्रतीकाशम्: shining like fire and the sun
• ज्वलनार्कप्रतीकाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलन + अर्क + प्रतीकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; विमानस्य विशेषण; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद: ज्वलन-अर्क; अर्थः: ज्वलनस्य अर्कस्य च प्रतीकाशम् (like fire and sun)

• सुकृतम्: well-made
• सुकृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु))
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विमानस्य विशेषण

• विश्वकर्मणा: by Vibvakarma
• विश्वकर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• हेमसोपानसंयुक्तम्: provided with golden stairways
• हेमसोपानसंयुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम + सोपान + संयुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्-√युज् (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विमानस्य विशेषण; समासः: हेमसोपानैः संयुक्तम्

• चारुप्रवरवेदिकम्: having beautiful excellent platforms
• चारुप्रवरवेदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु + प्रवर + वेदिक
  01 (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विमानस्य विशेषण; समासः: चारु च सा प्रवरवेदिका (descriptive)

Context

It had latticed windows made of gold inlaid with crystals. The platforms were encrusted with saphires called Indraneela and Mahaneela appropriately.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvakarman
• hema (gold)
• vedikā (platforms)

FAQs

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

Skill and craftsmanship are ethically neutral; dharma depends on how power and wealth are used. The narrative places such brilliance in Laṅkā to underscore that satya and dharma, not luxury, define rightful living.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān witnesses a radiant, exquisitely built aerial palace/structure (contextually connected with Pushpaka and Laṅkā’s royal architecture).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s self-control: he does not become distracted by marvels, maintaining the discipline required for a dharmic mission.