Shloka 67

पुष्पकविमानवर्णनम्

Description of the Pushpaka Vimana and Ravana’s Inner Palace

Devanagari script

रावणे सुखसंविष्टे तास्त्रियो विविधप्रभाः।ज्वलन्तः काञ्चना दीपाः प्रैक्षन्तानिमिषा इव।।5.9.67।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇe sukhasaṃviṣṭe tā striyo vividhaprabhāḥ |

jvalantaḥ kāñcanā dīpāḥ praikṣantānimiṣā iva || 5.9.67 ||

Translation

Während Rāvaṇa behaglich schlafend lag, schienen jene Frauen, in mannigfaltigem Glanz erstrahlend, wie lodernde goldene Lampen, die ohne Blinzeln blickten.

Word by Word

• राजर्षिपितृदैत्यानाम्: of royal sages, Pitṛs, and Daityas
• राजर्षिपितृदैत्यानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि + पितृ + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: राजर्षि-पितृ-दैत्य (द्वन्द्व; ‘royal sages, Pitṛs, and Daityas’); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• गन्धर्वाणाम्: of Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वाणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• योषितः: women
• योषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Vedic/epic variant for योषितः/योषितः = योषितः as nom.pl.)

• राक्षसानाम्: of Rākṣasas
• राक्षसानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• याः: who/which
• याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• कन्याः: maidens
• कन्याः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to याः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• कामवशम्: under the sway of desire
• कामवशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: काम-वश (तत्पुरुष; ‘sway of desire’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः कर्म (object with गताः)

• गताः: had come/gone
• गताः: Kriya (क्रिया; predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having gone/come to’

Context

It was not possible to distinguish clearly between their jewels, limbs, garments and garlands and to place them in the right spots.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• women of Rāvaṇa’s palace

FAQs

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

The verse sets a watchful atmosphere; dharma aligns with wakeful awareness (apramāda). Hanumān embodies this vigilance, unlike the palace’s moral sleep.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān observes Rāvaṇa asleep and the chamber lit by golden lamps, described through a poetic ‘unblinking gaze’ simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and carefulness—necessary for a truthful messenger operating in enemy territory.