Shloka 28

Devanagari script

अतीत्य च महामेरुं दृष्ट्वा चैवोत्तरान्कुरून् । शतसूर्यप्रतीकाशं सर्वतः कांचनावृतम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

atītya ca mahāmeruṃ dṛṣṭvā caivottarānkurūn | śatasūryapratīkāśaṃ sarvataḥ kāṃcanāvṛtam || 28 ||

Translation

Nachdem man den großen Meru überschritten und die nördlichen Kurus erblickt hat, sieht man ein Reich, das wie hundert Sonnen erglänzt und ringsum von Gold bedeckt ist.

Word by Word

• अतीत्य: having crossed / passing beyond
• अतीत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: इ (गमन), उपसर्ग: अति; अव्ययभावेन प्रयोगः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• महामेरुम्: the great Meru (mountain)
• महामेरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समास: महा + मेरु (विशेषण-विशेष्य)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: दृश् (दर्शन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• उत्तरान्: northern
• उत्तरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• कुरून्: the Kurus (people/land)
• कुरून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• शतसूर्यप्रतीकाशम्: shining like a hundred suns
• शतसूर्यप्रतीकाशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + सूर्य + प्रतीकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समास: शतसूर्यस्य प्रतीकाशम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: Deśādhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्ययीभावार्थे/क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'on all sides')

• काञ्चनावृतम्: covered with gold
• काञ्चनावृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन + आवृत (वृ धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) 'आवृत'; समास: काञ्चनेन आवृतम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers in the Uttara-Bhaga travel/cosmography sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahameru
• Uttara-Kuru

FAQs

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

It portrays the sanctified, otherworldly purity of Uttara-Kuru beyond Meru—an archetype of a luminous dharmic realm, symbolically indicating proximity to higher, merit-born planes of existence.

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

While not explicitly teaching a bhakti practice, it supports the Purana’s devotional worldview by depicting divine geography as radiant and sacred—encouraging श्रद्धा (faith) in Vishnu-ordained cosmic order and the fruits of dharma that bhakti sustains.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily puranic cosmography rather than a Vedanga lesson; indirectly, it aligns with Jyotisha-style imagery (sun-like radiance) used to communicate scale and splendor in sacred geography.