Valmiki Ramayana 6.13.11: Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 11

महापार्श्वस्य परामर्शः · Mahāpārśva’s Counsel and Rāvaṇa’s Confession of Brahmā’s Curse

Spoken by Ravana to MahaparsvaSetting: Ākāśa-mārga (sky-route) toward Brahmaloka/Svayambhū-bhavanaPlaces named: पितामहस्य भवनम् (Brahmā’s abode), आकाश (sky)Approach to Brahmā’s abode

Devanagari script

पितामहस्यभवनंगच्छन्तींपुञ्जिकस्थलाम् ।

चञ्चूर्यमाणामद्राक्षमाकाशेऽग्निशिखामिव ॥११॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 6.13.11

Transliteration

pitāmahasya bhavanaṃ gacchantīṃ puñjikasthalām |

cañcūryamāṇām adrākṣam ākāśe 'gniśikhām iva ||11||

Translation

मैं आसमान में जा रहा था, ब्रह्मा के घर की तरफ। तभी मैंने देखा पुंजिकस्थला भी वहीं जा रही है। वो आसमान में इतनी तेज़ी से उड़ रही थी, जैसे आग की लाल ज्वाला चमक रही हो।

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Word by Word

• पितामहस्य: of the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular
• Role: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)

• भवनम्: abode, house
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular
• Role: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)

• गच्छन्तीम्: going
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular feminine
• Role: विशेषण (कर्मविशेषण/Qualifying the object)

• पुञ्जिकस्थलाम्: Puñjikasthalā
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुञ्जिकस्थला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular
• Role: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)

• चञ्चूर्यमाणाम्: hiding/veiling herself (being concealed)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चञ्चूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) / चञ्चूर्यते (धात्वर्थ) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (Present middle/passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular feminine
• Role: विशेषण (कर्मविशेषण/Qualifying Puñjikasthalā)

• अद्राक्षम्: I saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/लुङ्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; Parasmaipada
• Role: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)

• आकाशे: in the sky
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular
• Role: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Location)

• अग्निशिखाम्: a flame of fire
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative): अग्नेः शिखा; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular
• Role: उपमान (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• इव: like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (उपमा-सूचक/Comparative marker)

Sandhi Notes

• पितामहस्यभवनम् = पितामहस्य + भवनम्
• भवनंगच्छन्तीम् = भवनम् + गच्छन्तीम्
• चञ्चूर्यमाणामद्राक्षम् = चञ्चूर्यमाणाम् + अद्राक्षम्
• माकाशेऽग्निशिखामिव = म् + आकाशे + अग्निशिखाम् + इव
• आकाशेऽ = आकाशे + अ (अवग्रह)

Context

"While I was going in the sky to the abode of Grandfather Brahma, I saw a celebrated one called Punjikasthala flying concealing herself, glowing like the flame of the fire."

The teaching

Unchecked desire, even amid splendor, initiates a chain leading to divine censure and restraint.

Duties in tension

• Self-control (indriya-nigraha) vs indulgence in kāma
• Respect for a woman’s autonomy vs predatory power

Ethical theme

Sexual ethics / violence (hiṃsā) / adharma

For your practice

Contemplation on tejas and desire: cultivate restraint (brahmacarya/saṃyama) and reverence for divine order.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Aerial, radiant, foreboding

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Desire
• Foreshadowing of adharma

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• Puñjikasthalā

FAQs

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

The verse sets the stage for ethical evaluation: perception and desire arise, but dharma requires self-restraint—especially regarding others’ autonomy and safety.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa recounts seeing Puñjikasthalā while traveling in the sky toward Brahmā’s abode.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

No virtue is foregrounded; the imagery foreshadows temptation and the moral failures that follow.