Shloka 19

The Description of Mandara (Mandaropavarṇanam) in the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

वृषलिंगेति विख्यातं प्रासादाभ्रसमं परम् । तस्मिन्बाला द्विजश्रेष्ठाश्चक्रे संगीतमुत्तमम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

vṛṣaliṃgeti vikhyātaṃ prāsādābhrasamaṃ param | tasminbālā dvijaśreṣṭhāścakre saṃgītamuttamam || 19 ||

Translation

ਉਹ ਥਾਂ ‘ਵ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਲਿੰਗ’ ਨਾਮ ਨਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਸਿੱਧ ਸੀ, ਬੱਦਲਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਛੂਹਦੇ ਮਹਲ ਵਾਂਗ ਪਰਮ ਉੱਚੀ। ਉੱਥੇ ਉਸ ਬਾਲਾ ਨੇ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਦ੍ਵਿਜਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਉੱਤਮ ਭਗਤੀ-ਸੰਗੀਤ ਕੀਤਾ।

Word by Word

• वृष-लिङ्ग-इति: as ‘Vṛṣa-liṅga’
• वृष-लिङ्ग-इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Nama (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-प्रयोगः (quotative particle); पूर्वपदद्वयम् नामनिर्देशार्थम्

• विख्यातम्: well-known, famed
• विख्यातम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ख्या (धातु) → विख्यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; लिङ्गम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रासाद-अभ्र-समम्: equal to a palace/cloud (lofty like)
• प्रासाद-अभ्र-समम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (उपमान-तत्पुरुषः: ‘प्रासादाभ्रयोः समम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (līṅgaṃ) इत्यस्य

• परम्: supreme, excellent
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तस्मिन्: there/in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in that place/there)

• बाला: the girl
• बाला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• द्विज-श्रेष्ठाः: O best of the twice-born
• द्विज-श्रेष्ठाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/‘द्विजानां श्रेष्ठाः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे/श्रोत्रृ-निर्देशे (addressing the best of twice-born)

• चक्रे: did, performed
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/लिट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• संगीतम्: music, song
• संगीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्म (object) चक्रे इत्यस्य

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् संगीतम् इत्यस्य

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Tirtha-Mahatmya section; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage implied)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vṛṣaliṅga

FAQs

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

It highlights a sacred tirtha-site—Vṛṣaliṅga—described as supremely exalted, where devotional practice includes refined sacred music, indicating that worship is not only ritual but also heartfelt praise offered in a holy place.

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

By presenting saṃgīta (devotional singing/music) being performed at the shrine, the verse points to bhakti expressed through sound—kīrtana-like praise and reverent performance offered at a consecrated locus of worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse chiefly reflects the applied tradition of sacred recitation and performance (close to Śikṣā—proper sound/intonation—and the broader saṃgīta discipline used in temple worship), emphasizing disciplined, beautiful vocal offering in a tirtha context.