Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 49

पुष्पकविमानवर्णनम्

Description of the Pushpaka Vimana and Ravana’s Inner Palace

Devanagari script

चन्द्रांशुकिरणाभाश्च हाराः कासांचिदुत्कटाः।हंसा इव बभुस्सुप्ताः स्तनमध्येषु योषिताम्।।5.9.49।।

Transliteration

candrāṁśu-kiraṇābhāś ca hārāḥ kāsāṁcid utkaṭāḥ | haṁsā iva babhuḥ suptāḥ stana-madhyeṣu yoṣitām || 5.9.49 ||

Translation

Kalung mutiara besar pada sesetengah wanita, berkilau laksana sinar bulan, terbaring lena di antara dada mereka—bagai angsa yang berehat.

Word by Word

• चन्द्रांशुकिरणाभाः: having the luster of moonbeams
• चन्द्रांशुकिरणाभाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र-अंशु-किरण-आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (येषां चन्द्रांशुकिरणवत् आभा अस्ति) विशेषण (हाराः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• हाराः: necklaces
• हाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कासांचित्: of some (women)
• कासांचित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (of some women)

• उत्कटाः: large/very prominent
• उत्कटाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्कट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (हाराः)

• हंसाः: swans
• हंसाः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (उपमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka indeclinable

• बभुः: appeared/were
• बभुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: भू (to be/appear)

• सुप्ताः: sleeping
• सुप्ताः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from स्वप् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (हंसाः)

• स्तनमध्येषु: between the breasts
• स्तनमध्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन-मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्तनयोः मध्ये)

• योषिताम्: of the women
• योषिताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

Context

The pearl chains, large and shining like rays of the Moon in the space between the breasts looked like sleeping swans.

Characters & Entities

• women of the inner chambers
• swans (haṁsa)

FAQs

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

Even amid sensual luxury, the epic’s Dharma lens reminds that beauty is transient; Satya-centered living seeks what endures—virtue, fidelity, and righteous purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes how pearl necklaces rest in place as the women sleep, using a poetic swan-simile to capture stillness and sheen.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s controlled attention: he notices details only as part of searching the chambers, not for indulgent fascination.