Shloka 71

मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity

Devanagari script

मणिमण्डलवकैश्षित्रं जातरूपसमावृतम्‌ | दिव्याभरणशोभाभिरर्वरस्त्रीभिरलंकृतम्‌

Transliteration

maṇimaṇḍalavakaiś citraṃ jātarūpasamāvṛtam | divyābharaṇaśobhābhir apsarastrībhir alaṅkṛtam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : «Ce char aérien était merveilleux, orné de cercles de gemmes et revêtu d’or. Des femmes célestes—des apsaras—le paraient, resplendissantes de vêtements et d’ornements divins.»

Word by Word

• मणि-मण्डल-विचित्रम्: variegated/ornate with jewel-discs
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• जातरूप-समावृतम्: covered/encased with gold
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समावृत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दिव्य-आभरण-शोभाभिः: by/with the splendors of divine ornaments
• दिव्य-आभरण-शोभाभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• अप्सरा-स्त्रीभिः: by apsara-women (celestial ladies)
• अप्सरा-स्त्रीभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• अलङ्कृतम्: adorned
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलङ्कृत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• vimāna (celestial chariot/aerial car)
• apsarases (celestial nymphs)
• gold (jātarūpa)
• gem-circles/roundels (maṇimaṇḍala)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses the imagery of a gem-studded, gold-covered vimāna attended by apsarases to suggest that righteous conduct and accumulated merit culminate in refined, celestial attainments; splendor is portrayed as an effect of dharma rather than mere luxury.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing a divine aerial car—ornamented with gem-circles and gold—and noting that it is beautified by celestial women wearing divine garments and ornaments, emphasizing its supernatural magnificence.