Valmiki Ramayana 5.9.2 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 2

पुष्पकविमानवर्णनम्

Description of the Pushpaka Vimana and Ravana’s Inner Palace

Devanagari script

अर्धयोजनविस्तीर्णमायतं योजनं हि तत्।भवनं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य बहुप्रासादसङ्कुलम्।।5.9.2।।

Transliteration

ardhayojanavistīrṇam āyataṃ yojanaṃ hi tat |

bhavanaṃ rākṣasendrasya bahuprāsādasaṅkulam ||5.9.2||

Translation

രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രന്റെ മഹാഭവനം അർദ്ധയോജന വീതിയും ഒരു യോജന നീളവും ഉള്ളതായിരുന്നു; അനേകം പ്രാസാദങ്ങൾ നിറഞ്ഞ വിശാലമായ ഭവനസമുച്ചയമായിരുന്നു അത്.

Word by Word

• अर्ध-योजन-विस्तीर्णम्: half-yojana wide
• अर्ध-योजन-विस्तीर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: अर्धयोजनस्य विस्तीर्णम् (spread to half a yojana in width)

• आयतम्: long
• आयतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् of तत्/भवनम्

• योजनम्: a yojana (in length)
• योजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेष्य-निर्देशः (refers to the mansion)

• भवनम्: mansion
• भवनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; तत् इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन (apposition)

• राक्षस-इन्द्रस्य: of the lord of demons
• राक्षस-इन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः (lord among demons)

• बहु-प्रासाद-सङ्कुलम्: crowded with many palaces
• बहु-प्रासाद-सङ्कुलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: बहवः प्रासादाः येन/यस्मिन्, तेन सङ्कुलम् (crowded with many palaces)

Context

It was supported by finely built pillars of two types of gold (Kartaswara and Hiranmaya) with images of wolves carved on them and blazing. It was tall as if scraping the sky and resembled mountains like Meru and Mandara. It was graced with multitudes of auspicious and decorated pleasurehouses everywhere.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• rākṣasas
• bhavana (palace complex)

FAQs

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

The verse indirectly contrasts external grandeur with inner righteousness: material magnitude does not validate adharmic rule. In the Ramayana’s dharma-frame, true worth is measured by conduct, not by opulence.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān, moving through Laṅkā in search of Sītā, observes the immense scale of Rāvaṇa’s residence and its many palatial structures.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s steadiness and focus: even amid overwhelming royal splendor, he remains intent on his mission (sevā to Rāma and the search for Sītā).