Shloka 16

The Description of Mandara (Mandaropavarṇanam) in the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

कांचनाकारभूतांगं सप्राप्ता कांचनप्रभा । सूर्यतेजोनिहंतारं मंदरं तेजसा स्वयम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

kāṃcanākārabhūtāṃgaṃ saprāptā kāṃcanaprabhā | sūryatejonihaṃtāraṃ maṃdaraṃ tejasā svayam || 16 ||

Translation

স্বর্ণাকৃতি দেহ ও স্বর্ণপ্রভায় বিভূষিতা তিনি মন্দর পর্বতের নিকট এলেন—যে নিজ তেজেই সূর্যের দাহক তেজকে দমন করে।

Word by Word

• काञ्चन-आकार-भूत-अङ्गम्: having limbs of golden form
• काञ्चन-आकार-भूत-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of सप्राप्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त; भू धातु, क्त) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासविशेषण (having limbs that have become of golden form)

• स-प्राप्ता: has attained (together/fully)
• स-प्राप्ता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative; subject = काञ्चनप्रभा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स (अव्यय/सह) + प्राप्त (कृदन्त; प्र+आप् धातु, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘स’ = सह (together/with); विधेय (has attained/has reached)

• काञ्चन-प्रभा: golden radiance
• काञ्चन-प्रभा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सूर्य-तेजः-निहन्तारम्: destroyer of the sun’s brilliance
• सूर्य-तेजः-निहन्तारम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of मन्दरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + निहन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; from नि+हन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘निहन्तार’ = destroyer

• मन्दरम्: Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of implied action/attainment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तेजसा: by radiance/splendor
• तेजसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: by itself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis; agentive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (reflexive adverb)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana to the sages; Uttara-Bhaga narrative voice)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shringara","emotional_journey":"A luminous, golden approach (a feminine ‘she’ arriving) heightens sensuous wonder, ending in marvel at Mandara’s innate splendor overpowering the Sun’s heat."}

Characters & Entities

• Mandara
• Surya

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It uses the imagery of “golden form” and overpowering “tejas” to signal extraordinary sanctity—where a sacred presence (or personified radiance) is drawn to a spiritually potent locus like Mandara, indicating a place/person whose purity outshines ordinary worldly brilliance.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By portraying irresistible attraction toward a supremely radiant, sanctified presence, the verse mirrors bhakti’s inner movement—where the devotee is naturally drawn toward the divine/sacred, and worldly “sun-like” glare (ego, distraction) is subdued by higher spiritual splendor.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse chiefly highlights Purāṇic sacred-geography and the symbolism of tejas rather than a specific Vedanga; indirectly, it aligns with Jyotiṣa-style language of solar brilliance (sūrya-tejas) used to convey gradations of power and auspiciousness.