Shloka 27

Devanagari script

तारहेममहारत्नविमानशतसङ्कुलाम् । जुष्टां पुण्यजनस्त्रीभिर्यथा खं सतडिद्घनम् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

tāra-hema-mahāratna- vimāna-śata-saṅkulām juṣṭāṁ puṇyajana-strībhir yathā khaṁ sataḍid-ghanam

Translation

The city was crowded with hundreds of vimānas adorned with pearls, gold, and precious jewels. Graced by celestial ladies, the scene resembled the sky filled with clouds, ornamented by occasional flashes of lightning.

Synonyms

• tāra-hema-mahāratna-vimāna-śata-saṅkulām: crowded with hundreds of jewel, gold, and silver vimānas
• tāra-hema-mahāratna-vimāna-śata-saṅkulām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक) + hema (प्रातिपदिक) + mahāratna (महā+रत्न; प्रातिपदिक) + vimāna (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (determinative: ‘crowded with hundreds of aerial cars of silver, gold, and great jewels’)

• juṣṭām: frequented/adorned
• juṣṭām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: juṣṭa (कृदन्त; जुष् धातोः क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle: ‘frequented/adorned’)

• puṇyajana-strībhiḥ: by the women of the Puṇyajanas
• puṇyajana-strībhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇyajana (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (by the women of the Puṇyajanas)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle: as/like)

• kham: sky
• kham: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• sa-taḍit-ghanam: a lightning-filled cloud
• sa-taḍit-ghanam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह; अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + taḍit (प्रातिपदिक) + ghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/बहुपदसमासः (descriptive: ‘a cloud with lightning’)

Purport

The airplanes described in this verse are different from the airplanes of which we have experience. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and all the Vedic literatures, there are many descriptions of vimāna, which means “airplanes.” On different planets there are different kinds of airplanes. On this gross planet earth, there are airplanes run by machine, but on other planets the airplanes are run not by machine but by mantric hymns. They are also used especially for enjoyment by the denizens of the heavenly planets so that they can go from one planet to another. On other planets which are called Siddhalokas, the denizens can travel from one planet to another without airplanes. The beautiful airplanes from the heavenly planets are compared here to the sky because they fly in the sky; the passengers are compared to the clouds. The beautiful damsels, the wives of the denizens of the heavenly planets, are compared to lightning. In summation, the airplanes with their passengers which came from higher planets to Kailāsa were very pleasant to look at.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about celestial vimānas (airplanes)?

This verse describes the scene as filled with hundreds of vimānas made of silver, gold, and jewels, indicating the presence and grandeur of the heavenly beings attending the event.

In Canto 4 Chapter 6, who is describing the crowded sky-like scene?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates to King Parīkṣit, using a vivid comparison—like lightning within clouds—to convey the splendor of the assembled celestial beings.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

It teaches attentive appreciation of sacred narration: Bhagavatam often uses powerful imagery to help the mind focus on divine history and its spiritual lessons rather than mere spectacle.