Shloka 16

The Description of Mandara (Mandaropavarṇanam) in the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

कांचनाकारभूतांगं सप्राप्ता कांचनप्रभा । सूर्यतेजोनिहंतारं मंदरं तेजसा स्वयम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

kāṃcanākārabhūtāṃgaṃ saprāptā kāṃcanaprabhā | sūryatejonihaṃtāraṃ maṃdaraṃ tejasā svayam || 16 ||

Translation

Vàng ròng trong hình tướng và vàng rực trong hào quang, nàng tiến đến Mandara—ngọn núi mà tự ánh quang của mình đã chế ngự sức chói chang của mặt trời.

Word by Word

• काञ्चन-आकार-भूत-अङ्गम्: having limbs of golden form
• काञ्चन-आकार-भूत-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of सप्राप्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त; भू धातु, क्त) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासविशेषण (having limbs that have become of golden form)

• स-प्राप्ता: has attained (together/fully)
• स-प्राप्ता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative; subject = काञ्चनप्रभा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स (अव्यय/सह) + प्राप्त (कृदन्त; प्र+आप् धातु, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘स’ = सह (together/with); विधेय (has attained/has reached)

• काञ्चन-प्रभा: golden radiance
• काञ्चन-प्रभा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सूर्य-तेजः-निहन्तारम्: destroyer of the sun’s brilliance
• सूर्य-तेजः-निहन्तारम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of मन्दरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + निहन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; from नि+हन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘निहन्तार’ = destroyer

• मन्दरम्: Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of implied action/attainment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तेजसा: by radiance/splendor
• तेजसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: by itself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis; agentive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (reflexive adverb)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana to the sages; Uttara-Bhaga narrative voice)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Mandara
• Surya

FAQs

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

It uses the imagery of “golden form” and overpowering “tejas” to signal extraordinary sanctity—where a sacred presence (or personified radiance) is drawn to a spiritually potent locus like Mandara, indicating a place/person whose purity outshines ordinary worldly brilliance.

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

By portraying irresistible attraction toward a supremely radiant, sanctified presence, the verse mirrors bhakti’s inner movement—where the devotee is naturally drawn toward the divine/sacred, and worldly “sun-like” glare (ego, distraction) is subdued by higher spiritual splendor.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse chiefly highlights Purāṇic sacred-geography and the symbolism of tejas rather than a specific Vedanga; indirectly, it aligns with Jyotiṣa-style language of solar brilliance (sūrya-tejas) used to convey gradations of power and auspiciousness.