Shloka 21

The Description of Mandara (Mandaropavarṇanam) in the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

मूर्च्छनातालसहितं गांधारध्वनिसंयुतम् । तस्मिन्प्रवृत्ते राजेंद्रगीते मन्मथवर्द्धने ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

mūrcchanātālasahitaṃ gāṃdhāradhvanisaṃyutam | tasminpravṛtte rājeṃdragīte manmathavarddhane || 21 ||

Translation

Accompanied by mūrcchanā (melodic progressions) and tāla (rhythmic cycles), and endowed with the resonance of the Gāndhāra note, when that “kingly” song began, it became a cause for the increase of Kāma (Manmatha), passion.

Word by Word

• मूर्च्छना-ताल-सहितम्: accompanied by melodic modes and rhythm
• मूर्च्छना-ताल-सहितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्च्छना (प्रातिपदिक) + ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (मूर्च्छना च तालश्च), ततः ‘सहित’ इति विशेषणेन सह; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गीत/संगीत) इत्यस्य

• गान्धार-ध्वनि-संयुतम्: joined with the Gāndhāra tone/sound
• गान्धार-ध्वनि-संयुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गान्धार (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्-युज् (धातु) → संयुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; ‘संयुत’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Ppp), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गीत/संगीत) इत्यस्य

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in that situation)

• प्रवृत्ते: when (it) had started
• प्रवृत्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) / Sati-saptami (सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वृत् (धातु) → प्रवृत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Ppp), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): ‘when it had begun’

• राजेन्द्र-गीते: in the king’s song
• राजेन्द्र-गीते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/‘राजेन्द्रस्य गीतम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी-सम्बद्धम्

• मन्मथ-वर्द्धने: in/with (that) which increases passion (Cupid)
• मन्मथ-वर्द्धने: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्मथ (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्द्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/‘मन्मथस्य वर्द्धनम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् गीत (understood) इत्यस्य—‘कामवर्धक’

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing the scene within the Tirtha-Mahatmya narrative

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Manmatha (Kama)

FAQs

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

It highlights how sensory arts—especially structured music with svara and tāla—can intensify worldly desire (manmatha), implying the need for disciplined engagement of the senses in dharmic life.

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

By showing music’s power to stir passion, it indirectly points to redirecting the same musical and emotional force toward devotion—using song as kīrtana for Vishnu-bhakti rather than for sense-enjoyment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It echoes Śikṣā-related concerns with sound (dhvani) and svara, and also gestures toward Gandharva-vidyā (music science) through technical terms like mūrcchanā, tāla, and the Gāndhāra note.