Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 27

पुष्पकविमानवर्णनम्

Description of the Pushpaka Vimana and Ravana’s Inner Palace

Devanagari script

नादितां मत्तविहगैर्दिव्यगन्धाधिवासिताम्।परार्ध्यास्तरणोपेतां रक्षोधिपनिषेविताम्।।5.9.27।।

Transliteration

nāditāṃ mattavihagair divyagandhādhivāsitām |

parārdhyāstaraṇopetāṃ rakṣodhipaniṣevitām ||5.9.27||

Translation

It resounded with the calls of excited birds, was pervaded by divine fragrance, furnished with priceless coverings, and was frequented—indeed inhabited—by the lord of the rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• नादिताम्: resounding
• नादिताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाद् (धातु) + इत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त/इत-कृदन्त (causative/passive sense: 'made to resound'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शालाम्)

• मत्त-विहगैः: by intoxicated birds
• मत्त-विहगैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + विहग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (मत्ताः विहगाः)

• दिव्य-गन्ध-अधिवासिताम्: perfumed with divine fragrance
• दिव्य-गन्ध-अधिवासिताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अधि + वास् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शालाम्); क्त-कृदन्त; तत्पुरुषः (दिव्यगन्धेन अधिवासिता)

• पर-अर्ध्य-आस्तरण-उपेताम्: furnished with very costly coverings
• पर-अर्ध्य-आस्तरण-उपेताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आस्तरण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (उप + इ धातु + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शालाम्); तत्पुरुषः (परार्ध्यैः आस्तरणैः उपेता)

• रक्षः-अधिप-निषेविताम्: frequented by the lord of rakshasas
• रक्षः-अधिप-निषेविताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक) + नि + सेव् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शालाम्); क्त-कृदन्त; तत्पुरुषः (रक्षोधिपेन निषेविता)

Context

The mansion was resounding with the noise of birds singing in heat. It had wonderful fragrance. It was laid with exquisite tapestries and served as a dwelling place for the king of demons.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma teaches that refined pleasures can coexist with adharma; therefore truth must be judged by conduct, not by atmosphere or luxury.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration identifies this richly perfumed, well-appointed residence as belonging to Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity—recognizing the occupant’s unrighteousness despite the setting’s beauty.