Shloka 5

स्वयंप्रभा

प्रश्नोत्तरम् / Svayamprabha Explains the Golden Forest and Questions the Vanaras

Devanagari script

कस्यैते काञ्चना वृक्षास्तरुणादित्यसन्निभाः।।4.51.4।।शुचीन्यभ्यवहार्याणि मूलानि च फलानि च।काञ्चनानि विमानानि राजतानि गृहाणि च।।4.51.5।।तपनीयगवाक्षाणि मणिजालावृतानि च।

Transliteration

kāñcanāni vimānāni rājatāni gṛhāṇi ca || 4.51.5 || tapanīyagavākṣāṇi maṇijālāvṛtāni ca |

Translation

Wessen sind diese goldenen Vimānas und diese silbernen Wohnstätten, mit strahlenden goldenen Fenstern, bedeckt von Gittern aus Edelsteinen?

Word by Word

• śucīni: pure
• śucīni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — विशेषणम्

• abhyavahāryāṇi: eatables
• abhyavahāryāṇi: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhyavahārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• mūlāni: roots
• mūlāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• phalāni: fruits
• phalāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• kāñcanāni: golden
• kāñcanāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — विशेषणम्

• vimānāni: mansions/palaces
• vimānāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• rājatāni: silver
• rājatāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — विशेषणम्

• gṛhāṇi: houses
• gṛhāṇi: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• tapanīya-gavākṣāṇi: golden windows
• tapanīya-gavākṣāṇi: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapanīya (प्रातिपदिक) + gavākṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — कर्मधारयः: 'tapanīyaḥ gavākṣaḥ' (golden windows)

• maṇi-jāla-āvṛtāni: covered with lattices of gems
• maṇi-jāla-āvṛtāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक) + āvṛta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः: maṇijālena āvṛtāni (covered with gem-lattices)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Context

'Thirst drove us into this cave on earth. We are amazed at the kind of many wonderful objects here and have nearly lost our senses. We are tormented with pain.

Characters & Entities

• vimāna (palatial structure)
• gavākṣa (windows)

FAQs

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

Non-attachment supported by inquiry: the vanaras do not claim the splendor but seek its explanation, aligning wonder with disciplined conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

The party observes opulent, seemingly supernatural architecture within the cave and asks the ascetic to identify whose it is.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Disciplined curiosity—marvel does not become greed; it becomes a question posed to a spiritual authority.