Shloka 13

The Description of Mandara (Mandaropavarṇanam) in the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

क्रीडाविहारोऽपि दिवौकसां यस्तपस्विना यस्तपसोऽपि हेतु । सुरांगनानां रतिवर्द्धनो यो रत्नौषधीनां प्रभवो गिरिर्महान् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

krīḍāvihāro'pi divaukasāṃ yastapasvinā yastapaso'pi hetu | surāṃganānāṃ rativarddhano yo ratnauṣadhīnāṃ prabhavo girirmahān || 13 ||

Translation

Jener große Berg ist wahrlich ein Spielplatz der Götter; den Asketen ist er Stätte des Tapas und sogar Ursache, die die Askese entfacht. Er mehrt die Wonne der himmlischen Jungfrauen und ist der Ursprung von Edelsteinen und heilkräftigen Kräutern.

Word by Word

• क्रीडा-विहारः: sport and recreation
• क्रीडा-विहारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक) + विहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• दिवौकसाम्: of the gods (heaven-dwellers)
• दिवौकसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक) + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘दिवौकस्’ = देव (heaven-dweller)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• तपस्विनाम्: of ascetics
• तपस्विनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• हेतुः: cause
• हेतुः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुर-अङ्गनानाम्: of celestial maidens
• सुर-अङ्गनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रति-वर्द्धनः: increasing delight/pleasure
• रति-वर्द्धनः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्द्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective used as predicate)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• रत्न-औषधीनाम्: of gems and medicinal herbs
• रत्न-औषधीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + औषधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व-समास (gems and herbs)

• प्रभवः: source/origin
• प्रभवः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• गिरिः: mountain
• गिरिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of गिरिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within Tirtha-Mahatmya description)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devas (divaukas)
• Apsaras/Devanganas (surāṅganāḥ)
• Tapasvins (ascetics)

FAQs

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

It presents a sacred mountain as multi-dimensional: a divine realm for devas, a tapas-kṣetra for ascetics, and a dhātrī (nurturing source) of healing herbs and gems—showing that tīrthas sanctify both inner discipline and outer prosperity.

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

By praising the sanctity and uplifting influence of a holy place, the verse supports bhakti through tīrtha-sevā and pilgrimage: reverent association with sacred geography naturally inspires restraint, worship, and remembrance of the divine order upheld by the devas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it reflects Vedic sacred-geo mapping used in pilgrimage traditions (tīrtha-nirṇaya) and the recognition of auṣadhi (medicinal herbs) consistent with Ayurveda/ritual purity practices, though no specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is explicitly taught in this verse.