Shloka 14

The Description of Mandara (Mandaropavarṇanam) in the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

दशैकसाहस्रमितश्च मूले तत्संख्यया विस्तरतां गतोऽसौ । दैर्घ्येण तावंति हि योजनानि त्रैलोक्ययष्टीव समुच्छ्रितोऽसौ ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

daśaikasāhasramitaśca mūle tatsaṃkhyayā vistaratāṃ gato'sau | dairghyeṇa tāvaṃti hi yojanāni trailokyayaṣṭīva samucchrito'sau || 14 ||

Translation

അതിന്റെ അടിസ്ഥാനം പതിനൊന്ന് ആയിരം യോജന; അതേ അളവിൽ തന്നെ അത് വ്യാപിച്ചു. ഉയരത്തിലും അത്രയേ യോജന—ത്രൈലോക്യം താങ്ങുന്ന തൂണുപോലെ നിവർന്ന് നില്ക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• दश-एक-साहस्र-मितः: measured as eleven thousand
• दश-एक-साहस्र-मितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of असौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मित (कृदन्त; मा धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; परिमाणवाचक समास

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मूले: at the base
• मूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्-संख्यया: by that number (i.e., equally)
• तत्-संख्यया: Karana (करण/Instrument; by that number)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular); करण/प्रकारवाचक

• विस्तरताम्: breadth/expanse
• विस्तरताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); ‘विस्तर’ = breadth/expanse

• गतः: has reached/has become
• गतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे/विधेय (has become/has reached)

• असौ: that (mountain)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• दैर्घ्येण: in length
• दैर्घ्येण: Karana (करण/Measure-instrument; in length)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक; from दीर्घ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• तावन्ति: so many
• तावन्ति: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of योजनानि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); परिमाणवाचक (so many)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• योजनानि: yojanas (units)
• योजनानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; of implied ‘(अस्ति)’/measure statement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• त्रैलोक्य-यष्टि-इव: like the staff/pillar of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्य-यष्टि-इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि+लोक) + यष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक: ‘इव’ (particle of comparison); ‘त्रैलोक्ययष्टि’ = त्रैलोक्यस्य यष्टिः (genitive tatpurusha)

• समुच्छ्रितः: is uplifted/lofty
• समुच्छ्रितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उद्+श्रि (धातु) → समुच्छ्रित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (raised/lofty)

• असौ: that (one)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (narration within a sacred-description passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a cosmic-scale “axis” imagery—an upright pillar spanning the three worlds—meant to evoke the vastness of sacred reality and the grandeur of the dharmic cosmos described in tirtha-mahātmya contexts.

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

While not prescribing a bhakti practice directly, the verse supports bhakti by magnifying reverence (śraddhā) for the Lord’s ordered universe and for sacred places whose greatness is framed through such cosmic descriptions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights traditional metrology and cosmographic reckoning (yojana-based measurement), a practical knowledge used in Purāṇic sacred geography and calendrical/astronomical discussions often adjacent to Jyotiṣa-style thinking.