Shloka 16

Narmadā Māhātmya with the Praise of Amarakantaka Tīrthas

Devanagari script

षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णो दिव्यस्त्रीपरिवारितः

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi svargaloke mahīyate | apsarogaṇasaṃkīrṇo divyastrīparivāritaḥ

Translation

ಅವನು ಅರವತ್ತು ಸಾವಿರ ವರ್ಷಗಳು ಸ್ವರ್ಗಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಗೌರವಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾನೆ; ಅಪ್ಸರೆಯರ ಗುಂಪಿನಿಂದ ಆವರಿತನಾಗಿ, ದಿವ್ಯ ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯರಿಂದ ಪರಿವಾರಿತನಾಗಿರುತ್ತಾನೆ.

Word by Word

• ṣaṣṭi-varṣa-sahasrāṇi: for sixty thousand years
• ṣaṣṭi-varṣa-sahasrāṇi: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (pl.); संख्यापूर्वक-तत्पुरुष/समाहारार्थ: ‘षष्टिवर्षाणां सहस्राणि’ (thousands of sixty-year [periods])

• svarga-loke: in the heavenly world
• svarga-loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वर्गस्य लोकः’

• mahīyate: is honored, is glorified
• mahīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mah (धातु; मह् पूजायाम्)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (passive/medio-passive): ‘is honored/glorified’

• apsarā-gaṇa-saṃkīrṇaḥ: crowded with groups of apsarases
• apsarā-gaṇa-saṃkīrṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkīrṇa (कृदन्त; √kṝ/√kṛ? here √kṝ/√kṛ not; standard saṃkīrṇa from √kṝ/√kṛ? actually √kṝ (कॄ) ‘to scatter’/√kṛ ‘to do’; lexical: saṃkīrṇa ‘mixed, crowded’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: ‘अप्सरोगणेन संकीर्णः’

• divya-strī-parivāritaḥ: surrounded by divine women
• divya-strī-parivāritaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक) + parivārita (कृदन्त; √vṛ वृञ् वरणे with pari-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: ‘दिव्यस्त्रीभिः परिवारितः’

Speaker

Unspecified narrator (Svarga-khaṇḍa narrative voice)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meritorious tīrtha-rite yields prolonged honor in svarga, depicted through celestial company and enjoyment.

Application: Use promised rewards as initial motivation, but remember their impermanence; aim to convert ritual merit into steady devotion and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast celestial court opens with jeweled terraces and cloud-thrones, where the meritorious soul is garlanded and honored for an age-like span. Swirling around him, apsarā hosts dance in concentric circles, their veils catching starlight, while divine attendants offer fragrant unguents and cups of nectar.","primary_figures":["honored soul (puṇyavān)","apsarā-gaṇa","divine attendants (gandharvas/vidyādharas implied)"],"setting":"svarga palace terraces above luminous clouds, jeweled pillars, celestial gardens with pārijāta trees","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["lapis blue","opal white","amethyst violet","gold leaf","rose pink"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: svarga sabhā with ornate golden arches, heavy gold leaf on pillars and halos; apsarās in rich silk reds/greens with gem-studded jewelry; the honored figure seated on a lotus-throne, intricate floral borders, high-relief ornamentation effect.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: airy cloud-palace with delicate dancers, fine textiles and transparent veils; cool blues and lilacs, refined faces, lyrical garden with pārijāta blossoms; subtle motion lines suggesting dance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and rhythmic dance poses; apsarās arranged in patterned symmetry; warm reds/yellows/greens with black contouring; celestial architecture simplified into iconic temple-like forms.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: celestial garden framed by lotus and vine borders; apsarā dance rendered as repeating motifs; deep blue background with gold star-dots; central honored figure on lotus, intricate textile ornamentation."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["celestial drums (mṛdaṅga-like)","cymbals","anklet bells","conch flourish","soft choral humming"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: svargaloke → svarga-loke; apsarogaṇasaṃkīrṇo → apsarā-gaṇa-saṃkīrṇaḥ; divyastrīparivāritaḥ → divya-strī-parivāritaḥ.

Characters & Entities

• Apsarās
• Svarga (heaven)

FAQs

What does this verse describe as the fruit of merit in Svarga-loka?

It portrays a long heavenly reward—being honored in Svarga for sixty thousand years—along with celestial company such as hosts of Apsarās and divine attendants.

Why are Apsarās mentioned in descriptions of Svarga in Purāṇic literature?

Apsarās function as emblematic figures of heavenly splendor and enjoyment, commonly used to depict the refined pleasures and honors associated with Svarga.

What ethical lesson is implied by emphasizing a time-limited heavenly reward?

Even vast heavenly enjoyment is presented as finite, implying that merit yields results that can be exhausted—encouraging pursuit of higher, lasting spiritual aims beyond temporary reward.