Shloka 17

The Description of Mandara (Mandaropavarṇanam) in the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

कुर्वती नृपकामार्थमुपविष्टा शिलातले । नीलकांतिमये दिव्ये सप्तयोजनविरतृते ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

kurvatī nṛpakāmārthamupaviṣṭā śilātale | nīlakāṃtimaye divye saptayojanaviratṛte || 17 ||

Translation

Désirant le roi pour but de son vœu, elle s’assit sur une dalle de pierre divine, luisante d’une radiance bleutée, s’étendant sur sept yojanas.

Word by Word

• कुर्वती: doing, performing
• कुर्वती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कुर्वत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• नृप-काम-अर्थम्: for the king’s desire/purpose
• नृप-काम-अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म) / Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/‘नृपस्य कामः’ इति), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• उपविष्टा: seated
• उपविष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु) → उपविष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• शिला-तले: on the surface of a rock
• शिला-तले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/‘शिलायाः तलम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• नील-कान्ति-मये: made of/filled with blue radiance
• नील-कान्ति-मये: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (मय-प्रत्ययार्थः ‘युक्त/निर्मित’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) शिलातले इत्यस्य

• दिव्ये: divine
• दिव्ये: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) शिलातले इत्यस्य

• सप्त-योजन-विरतृते: of seven-yojana extent
• सप्त-योजन-विरतृते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + विरतृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (संख्यापूर्वकः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) शिलातले इत्यस्य; विरतृत = ‘विस्तार/परिमाण’ (extent/measure) अर्थे

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Uttara-bhaga tirtha/mahatmya account in puranic style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shringara","emotional_journey":"A wonder-filled description of a vast, blue-radiant divine stone, colored by the maiden’s desire-driven purpose."}

FAQs

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

It frames a tirtha-style episode where intention (kāma/aim) drives action, and the setting is marked as “divine” through extraordinary sacred geography (a blue-radiant, vast stone), signaling a place of special potency for the unfolding merit-bearing narrative.

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

Bhakti is not stated explicitly here; the verse primarily establishes the sacred locus and the seeker’s focused intention. In Narada Purana’s mahatmya flow, such concentrated resolve at a sanctified place typically becomes the groundwork for later devotional acts (vrata, japa, worship) that yield spiritual fruit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical takeaway is the use of traditional measurement (yojana) and puranic sacred-topography. While not a direct Vedanga teaching, it aligns with the descriptive conventions that support tirtha-māhātmya mapping and ritual travel planning.