Shloka 5

पुष्पकविमानदर्शनम्

Vision of the Pushpaka Aerial Chariot

Devanagari script

विशेषमालम्ब्य विशेषसंस्थितंविचित्रकूटं बहुकूटमण्डितम्।मनोऽभिरामं शरदिन्दुनिर्मलंविचित्रकूटं शिखरं गिरेर्यथा।।।।

Transliteration

viśeṣam ālambya viśeṣa-saṃsthitaṃ vicitra-kūṭaṃ bahu-kūṭa-maṇḍitam |

mano’bhirāmaṃ śarad-indu-nirmalaṃ vicitra-kūṭaṃ śikharaṃ girer yathā ||

Translation

Auf einem besonderen Entwurf ruhend und in einzigartiger Weise angeordnet, erhob es sich mit wunderbaren Gipfeln und war mit vielen Zinnen geschmückt. Dem Geist lieblich und rein wie der Herbstmond, glich es dem Berggipfel, gekrönt von staunenswerten Graten.

Word by Word

• viśeṣam: a special feature/distinction
• viśeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ālambya: having resorted to
• ālambya: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-lamb (लम्ब् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-अव्यय), ‘आलम्ब्य’ = having resorted to/depending on

• viśeṣa-saṃsthitam: arranged in a special manner
• viśeṣa-saṃsthitam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśeṣa + saṃsthita (प्रातिपदिक + कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: विशेषेण संस्थितम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• vicitra-kūṭam: having wondrous peaks
• vicitra-kūṭam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra + kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: विचित्रं कूटम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• bahu-kūṭa-maṇḍitam: adorned with many peaks
• bahu-kūṭa-maṇḍitam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu + kūṭa + maṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक + कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: बहुभिः कूटैः मण्डितम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• manaḥ-abhirāmam: delightful to the mind
• manaḥ-abhirāmam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas + abhirāma (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: मनसः अभिरामम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• śarad-indu-nirmalam: pure like the autumn moon
• śarad-indu-nirmalam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śarad + indu + nirmala (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: शरदि इन्दुः इव निर्मलम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान-विशेषण

• vicitra-kūṭam: wondrous-peaked
• vicitra-kūṭam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra + kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (repeated epithet)

• śikharam: peak
• śikharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• gireḥ: of a mountain
• gireḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• yathā: like/as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle: as/like)

Context

The Pushpaka was specially designed in a unique manner. It was decorated with many colourful peaks. It was delghtful and pleasing to the mind and bright like the autumnal full-moon. It looked like a mountain with many wonderful towers around.

Characters & Entities

• Puṣpaka (vimāna)

FAQs

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

Beauty and grandeur are portrayed as neutral; their ethical value depends on alignment with dharma. The Ramayana repeatedly implies that splendour without righteousness becomes a setting for adharma rather than a sign of merit.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration continues the visual portrayal of Puṣpaka’s architecture as Hanumān surveys Rāvaṇa’s realm.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Aesthetic discernment guided by purpose: Hanumān observes carefully yet remains inwardly unentangled, maintaining focus on Sītā and Rāma’s cause.