Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 23

पुष्पकविमानवर्णनम्

Description of the Pushpaka Vimana and Ravana’s Inner Palace

Devanagari script

मणिसोपानविकृतां हेमजालविभूषिताम्।स्फाटिकैरावृततलां दन्तान्तरितरूपिकाम्।।5.9.23।।

Transliteration

maṇisopānavikṛtāṃ hemajālavibhūṣitām |

sphāṭikair āvṛtatalāṃ dantāntaritarūpikām ||5.9.23||

Translation

他看见那殿宇的阶梯以宝石镶嵌雕饰，门窗孔隙饰以金色格栅，地面铺覆水晶，象牙框中嵌置银制的装饰人像。

Word by Word

• मणि-सोपान-विकृताम्: adorned with gem-inlaid stairways
• मणि-सोपान-विकृताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + सोपान (प्रातिपदिक) + विकृत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शालाम्); तत्पुरुषः (मणिभिः सोपानैः विकृता/विन्यस्ता)

• हेम-जाल-विभूषिताम्: decorated with golden latticework
• हेम-जाल-विभूषिताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषित (सम् + भूष् धातु + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शालाम्); क्त-कृदन्त; तत्पुरुषः (हेमजालेन विभूषिता)

• स्फाटिकैः: with crystals
• स्फाटिकैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फाटिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• आवृत-तलाम्: whose floor was covered
• आवृत-तलाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शालाम्); क्त-कृदन्त; तत्पुरुषः (आवृतं तलं यस्याः/या)

• दन्त-अन्तरित-रूपिकाम्: inlaid with silver set among ivory
• दन्त-अन्तरित-रूपिकाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तरित (अन्तर्/अन्तरि धातु-निष्पन्न/कृदन्त) + रूप्यक/रूपिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शालाम्); तत्पुरुषः (दन्तेन अन्तरितं/खचितं रूप्यकम्)

Context

The stairways of the mansion were inlaid with special gems, windows were latticed with gold, floors were covered with crystals, figures of ivory with silver.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa (implied by the palace context)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is implied through disciplined observation: despite overwhelming luxury, Hanumān’s mission remains the truthful search for Sītā, not indulgence in sensory splendor.

What is the narrative situation?

During his night reconnaissance in Laṅkā, Hanumān inspects the richly built inner mansion areas while seeking signs of Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control and focus—remaining steady amid opulence and distraction.