Shloka 6

पुष्पकविमानदर्शनम्

Vision of the Pushpaka Aerial Chariot

Devanagari script

वहन्ति यं कुण्डलशोभिताननाःमहाशना व्योमचरा निशाचराः।विवृत्तविध्वस्तविशाललोचनाःमहाजवा भूतगणाः सहस्रशः।।।।

Transliteration

vahanti yaṃ kuṇḍala-śobhita-ānanāḥ mahāśanā vyoma-carā niśācarāḥ |

vivṛtta-vidhvasta-viśāla-locanāḥ mahā-javā bhūta-gaṇāḥ sahasraśaḥ ||

Translation

Tausende Scharen von Bhūtas trugen es—nachtwandelnde Wesen, die durch den Himmel zogen; ihre Gesichter glänzten von Ohrringen, von Natur aus gefräßig, von gewaltiger Schnelligkeit und furchtbar mit weit aufgerissenen, rollenden Augen.

Word by Word

• vahanti: they carry/draw
• vahanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vah (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• yam: whom/which
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• kuṇḍala-śobhita-ānanāḥ: whose faces are adorned by earrings
• kuṇḍala-śobhita-ānanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + śobhita (कृदन्त, √śubh) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कुण्डलेन शोभितम् आननम् यस्याः)

• mahāśanāḥ: great eaters; gluttons
• mahāśanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् अशनः/अशनम् यस्याः)

• vyomacārāḥ: sky-roamers
• vyomacārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoma (प्रातिपदिक) + cāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (व्योमनि चरन्ति)

• niśācarāḥ: night-rangers
• niśācarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (निशायां चरन्ति)

• vivṛtta-vidhvasta-viśāla-locanāḥ: with wide, rolling, terrifying eyes
• vivṛtta-vidhvasta-viśāla-locanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vivṛtta (कृदन्त/विशेषण) + vidhvasta (कृदन्त, √dhvaṃs) + viśāla (प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (विवृत्तानि विध्वस्तानि विशालानि लोचनानि यस्याः)

• mahājavāḥ: very swift
• mahājavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + java (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् जवः येषाम्)

• bhūtagaṇāḥ: groups of spirits (bhūtas)
• bhūtagaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भूतानां गणाः)

• sahasraśaḥ: by thousands; in thousands
• sahasraśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasraśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial distributive)

Context

The Pushpaka was borne by multitudes of Bhutas whose faces were shining with ear-rings, who were demons ranging in the night sky. They were gluttons endowed with great speed, and they had big, rolling and frightening eyes.

Characters & Entities

• Puṣpaka (vimāna)
• Niśācara (night-rangers)

FAQs

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

The verse suggests an ethical contrast: immense power and speed can serve unsettling forces when not governed by dharma. The Ramayana frames such might as morally ambiguous unless aligned with righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān’s reconnaissance reveals that Puṣpaka is attended and borne by fearsome supernatural beings, reflecting the atmosphere of Laṅkā under Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and steadiness: despite terrifying sights, Hanumān continues his mission without panic or distraction.