Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 11

महापार्श्वस्य परामर्शः

Mahāpārśva’s Counsel and Rāvaṇa’s Confession of Brahmā’s Curse

Devanagari script

पितामहस्यभवनंगच्छन्तींपुञ्जिकस्थलाम् ।चञ्चूर्यमाणामद्राक्षमाकाशेऽग्निशिखामिव ।।।।

Transliteration

pitāmahasya bhavanaṃ gacchantīṃ puñjikasthalām |

cañcūryamāṇām adrākṣam ākāśe 'gniśikhām iva ||

Translation

பிதாமகரான பிரம்மாவின் இருப்பிடத்திற்குச் சென்று கொண்டிருந்தவளும், ஆகாயத்தில் தீச்சுடர் போலப் பிரகாசிப்பவளுமான புஞ்சிகஸ்தலையை நான் கண்டேன்.

Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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."

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.