Shloka 176

Brahmā’s Puṣkara Sacrifice and the Manifestation of Sarasvatī

with Tīrtha-Merit Teachings

Devanagari script

सितांबरधराधन्या सितचंदनमंडिता । शरदंबुजसच्छाय तारहारविभूषिता

Transliteration

sitāṃbaradharādhanyā sitacaṃdanamaṃḍitā | śaradaṃbujasacchāya tārahāravibhūṣitā

Translation

Nàng thật phúc lành—mặc y phục trắng, điểm trang bằng bạch đàn hương; rạng ngời như sen mùa thu, lại được tô điểm bằng chuỗi ngọc trai.

Word by Word

• sita-ambara-dharā-dhanyā: fortunate, wearing white garments
• sita-ambara-dharā-dhanyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + dharā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सिताम्बरधरा (बहुव्रीहि/उपपद: ‘सितम् अम्बरं धारयति या’), तद्विशेषणं धन्या; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sita-caṃdana-maṃḍitā: adorned with white sandalwood
• sita-caṃdana-maṃḍitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक) + caṃdana (प्रातिपदिक) + maṃḍita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सितचन्दनमण्डिता (तत्पुरुष: ‘सितचन्दनेन मण्डिता’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• śarat-ambu-ja-sat-chāyā: having a lustre like autumn lotuses
• śarat-ambu-ja-sat-chāyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śarat (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक) + sat (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + chāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: शरदम्बुजसच्छाया (बहुव्रीहि: ‘शरदम्बुजस्य सत्/सुन्दरं छाया यस्याः’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• tāra-hāra-vibhūṣitā: adorned with star-like necklaces/pearl garlands
• tāra-hāra-vibhūṣitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक) + hāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तारहारविभूषिता (तत्पुरुष: ‘तारहारैः विभूषिता’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narrator (context not provided; verse is descriptive in style)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सितांबरधराधन्या = सित + अम्बर + धरा + धन्या (समास; अम्बर→आम्बर); शरदंबुजसच्छाय = शरत् + अम्बुज + सत् + छाया (त् + अ → द; सत् + छाया → सच्छाया).

FAQs

What is being described in this verse?

The verse is a poetic iconographic description of a blessed female figure—white-clad, anointed with white sandal paste, lotus-radiant, and adorned with pearls.

Why is the autumn lotus (śaradaṃbuja) used as a comparison?

The autumn lotus is a common Sanskrit image for pure, clear, luminous beauty—suggesting a bright, serene radiance and an auspicious complexion.

What is the devotional or ethical takeaway from such descriptions?

Such verses train the mind toward purity, auspiciousness, and reverent contemplation (dhyāna) by presenting an idealized, sattvic form marked by simplicity, brightness, and sacred ornamentation.