Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 13

पुष्पकविमानदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Pushpaka and Lanka’s Jewel-like Mansions

Devanagari script

प्रवालजाम्बूनदपुष्पपक्षाः सलीलमावर्जितजिह्मपक्षाः।कामस्य साक्षादिव भान्ति पक्षाः कृता विहङ्गाः सुमुखाः सुपक्षाः।।5.7.13।।

Transliteration

pravāla-jāmbūnada-puṣpa-pakṣāḥ salīlam āvarjita-jihma-pakṣāḥ | kāmasya sākṣād iva bhānti pakṣāḥ kṛtā vihaṅgāḥ su-mukhāḥ su-pakṣāḥ ||

Translation

Bird-figures were fashioned with wings of coral and gold, their curved wings posed as if in playful motion; their wings seemed like the very wings of Kāma’s attendants—so vivid were these well-faced, fair-winged creations.

Word by Word

• प्रवाल-जाम्बूनद-पुष्प-पक्षाः: having wings of coral, gold, and flowers
• प्रवाल-जाम्बूनद-पुष्प-पक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवाल (प्रातिपदिक) + जाम्बूनद (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—प्रवाल-जाम्बूनद-पुष्पैः पक्षाः येषाम् (having wings of coral, gold, and flowers)

• सलीलम्: playfully
• सलीलम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सलील (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘playfully/sportively’

• आवर्जित-जिह्म-पक्षाः: with curved/bent wings
• आवर्जित-जिह्म-पक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग) + √वृज्/√वर्ज् (धातु; to bend/turn) → आवर्जित (कृदन्त) + जिह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—आवर्जिताः जिह्माः पक्षाः येषाम् (with bent/curved wings)

• कामस्य: of Kāma (Cupid)
• कामस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen), एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly, truly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय

• भान्ति: shine, appear
• भान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• पक्षाः: wings
• पक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कृताः: made/drawn
• कृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृताः (PPP, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विहङ्गाः: birds
• विहङ्गाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सु-मुखाः: having lovely faces
• सु-मुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सुन्दरं मुखं येषाम्

• सु-पक्षाः: having beautiful wings
• सु-पक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सुन्दराः पक्षाः येषाम्

Context

It had curved figures of birds with beautiful wings carved out of corals and gold The wings were shining as if they were really the wings of allies of Cupid, the god of love.

Characters & Entities

• Kāma (Cupid)
• Pravāla (coral)
• Jāmbūnada (gold)

FAQs

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

Dharma is conveyed indirectly: alluring imagery connected with Kāma (desire) appears, yet the righteous agent (Hanumān) must remain unruled by desire and continue his duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān witnesses exquisite decorative artistry—bird motifs so lifelike they evoke poetic comparison with Kāma’s retinue.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Detachment from sensual allure and unwavering commitment to a higher cause.