Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 6

The Marvel at Ānandakānana: A Lake-Vision and a Karmic Parable

Prabhāsa / Guru-tīrtha Context

Devanagari script

विमानैः कोटिसंख्याभिर्हंसकुंदेंदुसन्निभैः । गीतकोलाहलैः रम्यैर्मेघध्वनिनिनादितम्

Transliteration

vimānaiḥ koṭisaṃkhyābhirhaṃsakuṃdeṃdusannibhaiḥ | gītakolāhalaiḥ ramyairmeghadhvaninināditam

Translation

そこは雲の轟きのように鳴りひびき、無量の億に及ぶ天のヴィマーナが飾り立てられて、白鳥・クンダの花・月のごとく輝き、歌の祝祭のざわめきによっていよいよ麗しかった。

Word by Word

• विमानैः: by aerial chariots
• विमानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (by/with aerial chariots)

• कोटि-संख्याभिः: in crores (countless in number)
• कोटि-संख्याभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; ‘of crore-number’ qualifying विमानेभिः

• हंस-कुन्द-इन्दु-सन्निभैः: resembling swans, jasmine, and the moon
• हंस-कुन्द-इन्दु-सन्निभैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + कुन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; ‘resembling swans, jasmine, and moon’ qualifying विमानेभिः

• गीत-कोलाहलैः: with the din of songs
• गीत-कोलाहलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + कोलाहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; ‘uproars of song’

• रम्यैः: delightful
• रम्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifying गीतकोलाहलैः

• मेघ-ध्वनि-निनादितम्: resounded like thunderclouds
• मेघ-ध्वनि-निनादितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वनि (प्रातिपदिक) + निनादित (कृदन्त; √नद्/नदति)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past passive participle; ‘made to resound with cloud-like thunder’ (qualifying an implied neuter noun, e.g., नगरम्/विमानम्/स्थानम्)

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative description within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa dialogue context; commonly transmitted as Pulastya speaking to Bhīṣma in this section, but not explicit in this single verse).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: कोटिसंख्याभिः = कोटि-संख्याभिः; हंसकुंदेंदुसन्निभैः = हंस-कुन्द-इन्दु-सन्निभैः; गीतकोलाहलैः = गीत-कोलाहलैः; रम्यैर्मेघध्वनिनिनादितम् = रम्यैः मेघ-ध्वनि-निनादितम्.

FAQs

What scene is being depicted in this verse?

A grand celestial or divine setting filled with innumerable vimānas (heavenly vehicles), bright as swans, jasmine, and moonlight, accompanied by joyous singing and a thunder-like resonance.

Why are swan, jasmine, and moon used as comparisons?

They are conventional Sanskrit purity-and-luster similes: the swan suggests whiteness and grace, kunda suggests spotless brightness, and the moon suggests cool radiance—together conveying splendid, auspicious brilliance.

What is the ethical or devotional takeaway of such ornate descriptions?

Such imagery functions to inspire reverence and devotional imagination—presenting the divine realm (or a sanctified event) as supremely beautiful and ordered, encouraging the listener to value dharma and sacred presence over ordinary worldly attractions.