Shloka 17

The Description of Mandara (Mandaropavarṇanam) in the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

कुर्वती नृपकामार्थमुपविष्टा शिलातले । नीलकांतिमये दिव्ये सप्तयोजनविरतृते ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

kurvatī nṛpakāmārthamupaviṣṭā śilātale | nīlakāṃtimaye divye saptayojanaviratṛte || 17 ||

Translation

Sa pagnanais na makamit ang hari bilang layon, siya’y naupo sa ibabaw ng batong banal at dibino, kumikislap sa bughaw na liwanag, na umaabot sa pitong yojana ang lawak.

Word by Word

• कुर्वती: doing, performing
• कुर्वती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कुर्वत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• नृप-काम-अर्थम्: for the king’s desire/purpose
• नृप-काम-अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म) / Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/‘नृपस्य कामः’ इति), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• उपविष्टा: seated
• उपविष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु) → उपविष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• शिला-तले: on the surface of a rock
• शिला-तले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/‘शिलायाः तलम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• नील-कान्ति-मये: made of/filled with blue radiance
• नील-कान्ति-मये: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (मय-प्रत्ययार्थः ‘युक्त/निर्मित’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) शिलातले इत्यस्य

• दिव्ये: divine
• दिव्ये: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) शिलातले इत्यस्य

• सप्त-योजन-विरतृते: of seven-yojana extent
• सप्त-योजन-विरतृते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + विरतृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (संख्यापूर्वकः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) शिलातले इत्यस्य; विरतृत = ‘विस्तार/परिमाण’ (extent/measure) अर्थे

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Uttara-bhaga tirtha/mahatmya account in puranic style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

FAQs

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

It frames a tirtha-style episode where intention (kāma/aim) drives action, and the setting is marked as “divine” through extraordinary sacred geography (a blue-radiant, vast stone), signaling a place of special potency for the unfolding merit-bearing narrative.

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

Bhakti is not stated explicitly here; the verse primarily establishes the sacred locus and the seeker’s focused intention. In Narada Purana’s mahatmya flow, such concentrated resolve at a sanctified place typically becomes the groundwork for later devotional acts (vrata, japa, worship) that yield spiritual fruit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical takeaway is the use of traditional measurement (yojana) and puranic sacred-topography. While not a direct Vedanga teaching, it aligns with the descriptive conventions that support tirtha-māhātmya mapping and ritual travel planning.