Shloka 17

मेरु-प्रमाणम्, सप्त-पाताल-वर्णनम्, तथा अनन्त-शेष-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

नीलवासा मदोत्सिक्तः श्वेतहारोपशोभितः साभ्रगङ्गाप्रपातो ऽसौ कैलासाद्रिर् इवोन्नतः

Transliteration

nīlavāsā madotsiktaḥ śvetahāropaśobhitaḥ sābhragaṅgāprapāto 'sau kailāsādrir ivonnataḥ

Translation

Berpakaian biru tua, terangkat oleh semangat yang megah, dan indah dengan kalung putih, Dia menjulang—seperti Gunung Kailasa dengan air terjun Gangga mengalir di lerengnya yang diselubungi awan.

Word by Word

• नीलवासा: clad in blue
• नीलवासा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + वासस्/वासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—नीलं वासः यस्य

• मदोत्सिक्तः: swollen/raised with intoxication
• मदोत्सिक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद + उत्सिक्त (कृदन्त; सिच्/सिञ्च्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; अर्थे ‘उत्सिक्त’ = उन्नत/उद्गत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; समासः—मदेन उत्सिक्तः

• श्वेतहारोपशोभितः: adorned with white garlands/necklaces
• श्वेतहारोपशोभितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत + हार + उपशोभित (कृदन्त; शोभ्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—श्वेतहारैः उपशोभितः

• साभ्रगङ्गाप्रपातः: having clouds and the Ganga’s cascade
• साभ्रगङ्गाप्रपातः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + अभ्र + गङ्गा + प्रपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—अभ्रैः सह गङ्गायाः प्रपातः यस्य (having cloud and Ganga-fall)

• असौ: that (one), he
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/एतद्-प्रकार (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम

• कैलासाद्रिः: Mount Kailāsa
• कैलासाद्रिः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास + अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कैलासः स एव अद्रिः

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (Simile/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक-निपात

• उन्नतः: lofty, elevated
• उन्नतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्नत (कृदन्त; नम्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; उपसर्ग ‘उद्’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Sacred geography and the beings supporting the worlds (context of Bhū-maṇḍala description)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Vyuha Form: Sankarshana

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Mount Kailasa

FAQs

What is the significance of comparing a figure to Mount Kailāsa in the Vishnu Purana?

Kailāsa functions as a symbol of unsurpassed elevation, stability, and sacred majesty; the verse uses this image to convey towering presence and awe-inspiring splendour.

How does Sage Parāśara explain royal sovereignty through poetic description here?

By highlighting attire, adornment, and an exalted bearing, Parāśara frames sovereignty as a visible radiance—an outward sign of inner power and elevated status within the dynastic narrative.

What is the theological importance of such imagery in a Vaishnava Purana?

Even when describing worldly greatness, the Purana’s aesthetic language points to a higher order—majesty and elevation ultimately echo divine sovereignty, under which kingship is ideally aligned with dharma.