Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

नीलवासा मदोत्सिक्तः श्वेतहारोपशोभितः साभ्रगङ्गाप्रपातो ऽसौ कैलासाद्रिर् इवोन्नतः

Transliteration

nīlavāsā madotsiktaḥ śvetahāropaśobhitaḥ sābhragaṅgāprapāto 'sau kailāsādrir ivonnataḥ

Translation

Clad in deep-blue garments, uplifted with proud exhilaration and splendid with a white garland, he stood lofty—like Mount Kailāsa, with the Gaṅgā cascading down its cloud-wreathed slopes.

Word by Word

• नीलवासा: clad in blue
• नीलवासा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + वासस्/वासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—नीलं वासः यस्य

• मदोत्सिक्तः: swollen/raised with intoxication
• मदोत्सिक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद + उत्सिक्त (कृदन्त; सिच्/सिञ्च्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; अर्थे ‘उत्सिक्त’ = उन्नत/उद्गत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; समासः—मदेन उत्सिक्तः

• श्वेतहारोपशोभितः: adorned with white garlands/necklaces
• श्वेतहारोपशोभितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत + हार + उपशोभित (कृदन्त; शोभ्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—श्वेतहारैः उपशोभितः

• साभ्रगङ्गाप्रपातः: having clouds and the Ganga’s cascade
• साभ्रगङ्गाप्रपातः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + अभ्र + गङ्गा + प्रपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—अभ्रैः सह गङ्गायाः प्रपातः यस्य (having cloud and Ganga-fall)

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

• कैलासाद्रिः: Mount Kailāsa
• कैलासाद्रिः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास + अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कैलासः स एव अद्रिः

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

• उन्नतः: lofty, elevated
• उन्नतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्नत (कृदन्त; नम्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; उपसर्ग ‘उद्’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

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

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Mount Kailasa

FAQs

What is the significance of comparing a figure to Mount Kailāsa in the Vishnu Purana?

Kailāsa functions as a symbol of unsurpassed elevation, stability, and sacred majesty; the verse uses this image to convey towering presence and awe-inspiring splendour.

How does Sage Parāśara explain royal sovereignty through poetic description here?

By highlighting attire, adornment, and an exalted bearing, Parāśara frames sovereignty as a visible radiance—an outward sign of inner power and elevated status within the dynastic narrative.

What is the theological importance of such imagery in a Vaishnava Purana?

Even when describing worldly greatness, the Purana’s aesthetic language points to a higher order—majesty and elevation ultimately echo divine sovereignty, under which kingship is ideally aligned with dharma.