Shloka 16

मेरु-प्रमाणम्, सप्त-पाताल-वर्णनम्, तथा अनन्त-शेष-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

मदाघूर्णितनेत्रो ऽसौ यः सदैवैककुण्डलः किरीटी स्रग्धरो भाति साग्निः श्वेत इवाचलः

Transliteration

madāghūrṇitanetro 'sau yaḥ sadaivaikakuṇḍalaḥ kirīṭī sragdharo bhāti sāgniḥ śveta ivācalaḥ

Translation

His eyes roll with intoxication; he ever wears a single earring. Crowned and garlanded, he shines like a white mountain lit by fire.

Word by Word

• मदाघूर्णितनेत्रः: whose eyes are rolling with intoxication
• मदाघूर्णितनेत्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद + आघूर्णित + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक; आघूर्णित = घूर्ण्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—मदेन आघूर्णितं नेत्रं यस्य

• असौ: that (one), he
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/एतद्-प्रकार (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• एककुण्डलः: wearing a single earring
• एककुण्डलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—एकं कुण्डलं यस्य

• किरीटी: crowned
• किरीटी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किरीटिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• स्रग्धरः: wearing a garland
• स्रग्धरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्रज् + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—स्रजं धरति इति

• भाति: shines
• भाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• साग्निः: with fire (fiery)
• साग्निः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—अग्निना सह (having fire)

• श्वेतः: white
• श्वेतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (Simile/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक-निपात (comparative particle)

• अचलः: a mountain
• अचलः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Sacred geography and the beings supporting the worlds (context of Bhū-maṇḍala description)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Vyuha Form: Sankarshana

FAQs

What is the significance of royal ornaments (crown, garland, earring) in the Vishnu Purana?

They function as literary signs of sovereignty and auspicious legitimacy, portraying the ruler/hero as radiantly established in status and power within the dynasty narrative.

How does Sage Parāśara explain character through imagery in this passage?

He compresses personality into visual emblems—intoxicated, rolling eyes and brilliant ornaments—so the listener immediately grasps a commanding, dazzling presence without lengthy exposition.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when describing kings and heroes, the Purana’s narrative frame treats worldly sovereignty as subordinate to the higher cosmic order ultimately upheld by Vishnu as the Supreme regulator of dharma.