Shloka 30

The Description of Mohinī’s Love Episode

Devanagari script

घनस्तनौ कांचनकुंभतुल्यौ प्रच्छादितौ हारविभूषणेन । वलित्रयं नातिविवर्द्धमानं मनोहरं लोमशराजिशोभम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

ghanastanau kāṃcanakuṃbhatulyau pracchāditau hāravibhūṣaṇena | valitrayaṃ nātivivarddhamānaṃ manoharaṃ lomaśarājiśobham || 30 ||

Translation

അവളുടെ ഘനമായ സ്തനങ്ങൾ സ്വർണ്ണകുംഭങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ, ഹാരാഭരണത്താൽ മറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു; നിതംബത്തിനടുത്തുള്ള മൂന്നു മടക്കങ്ങൾ അതിയായി തെളിഞ്ഞില്ല—മനോഹരമായി, സൂക്ഷ്മ രോമരേഖയുടെ ശോഭയാൽ അലങ്കരിതം।

Word by Word

• घन-स्तनौ: the two firm breasts
• घन-स्तनौ: कर्ता/वर्ण्य (Described entity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (घनौ स्तनौ = firm/dense breasts)

• काञ्चन-कुम्भ-तुल्यौ: like golden pots
• काञ्चन-कुम्भ-तुल्यौ: विशेषण (Adjectival to स्तनौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (काञ्चनकुम्भयोः तुल्यौ = like golden pots)

• प्रच्छादितौ: covered
• प्रच्छादितौ: विशेषण/भाव (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√छद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मणि (covered)

• हार-विभूषणेन: by a necklace ornament
• हार-विभूषणेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हार (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (हाररूपेण विभूषणेन = by a necklace-ornament)

• वलि-त्रयम्: the three folds (of the belly)
• वलि-त्रयम्: कर्म/वर्ण्य (Described feature)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वलि (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (three folds/lines)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अति: excessively
• अति: सम्बन्ध (Degree modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/क्रियाविशेषण (excessively)

• विवर्धमानम्: growing
• विवर्धमानम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to वलित्रयम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+√वृध् (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्यय (Present middle participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले (growing)

• मनोहरम्: charming
• मनोहरम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to वलित्रयम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• लोमश-राजि-शोभम्: adorned by a line of hair
• लोमश-राजि-शोभम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to वलित्रयम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोमश (प्रातिपदिक) + राजि (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (लोमशराज्या शोभते = beautified by a line of hair)

Speaker

Narada (narrative description within a Tirtha-Mahatmya passage; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It uses classical Purāṇic poetic imagery to portray auspicious, divine beauty, reinforcing the sacred atmosphere of the narrative setting (often tied to a tīrtha or a revered presence) and drawing the mind toward śraddhā and reverence.

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

While not a direct instruction on bhakti, such vivid sacred description functions as a meditative support (smaraṇa) that helps devotees focus the mind on the auspicious form and presence associated with the Purāṇic account, which is a common devotional method in Purāṇas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedāṅga teaching is stated; the verse primarily reflects alaṅkāra (poetic ornamentation) and descriptive convention rather than Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or ritual procedure.