Shloka 26

Omens and Consolation after Loss; Reaffirmation of the Saindhava Punishment Vow (उत्पात-दर्शनम्, आश्वासन-वाक्यानि, प्रतिज्ञा-स्थैर्यम्)

Devanagari script

पुष्करेष्वथ गोकर्णे नैमिषे मलये तथा । अपाकर्षत्‌ स्वकं देहं नियमैर्मानसप्रियै:,तदनन्तर पुष्कर, गोकर्ण, नैमिषारण्य तथा मलयाचलके तीर्थोमें रहकर मनको प्रिय लगनेवाले नियमोंद्वारा उसने अपने शरीरको अत्यन्त क्षीण कर दिया

Transliteration

puṣkareṣv atha gokarṇe naimiṣe malaye tathā | apākarṣat svakaṃ dehaṃ niyamair mānasapriyaiḥ ||

Translation

قال نارَدَة: ثم أقامت في المواضع المقدّسة: بوشكَرَ (Puṣkara) وغوكَرْنَ (Gokarṇa) ونايميṣa (Naimiṣa)، وكذلك على جبل مَلَيَ (Malaya)، فأنحلت جسدها إنحالاً شديداً—حتى بلغ غاية النحول—بما أحبّته نفسها من ضروب النُّسُك والالتزام.

Word by Word

• पुष्करेषु: in Pushkara (tirthas)
• पुष्करेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• अथ: then/and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• गोकर्णे: in Gokarna
• गोकर्णे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• नैमिषे: in Naimisha (forest)
• नैमिषे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• मलये: in Malaya (mountain/region)
• मलये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मलय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तथा: also/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अपाकर्षत्: he emaciated/reduced
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + कृश्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• स्वकम्: his own
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• देहम्: body
• देहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नियमैः: by observances/disciplinary vows
• नियमैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मानसप्रियैः: pleasing to the mind
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानसप्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Puṣkara
• Gokarṇa
• Naimiṣa (Naimiṣāraṇya)
• Malaya (Malaya mountain)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores tapas through niyama: disciplined observances, willingly embraced, can subdue bodily demands and strengthen inner purpose. It presents self-restraint—especially when supported by sacred settings—as a dharmic means to spiritual attainment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada narrates that a person undertook austerities while staying at major tīrthas—Puṣkara, Gokarṇa, Naimiṣa, and Malaya—practicing mind-pleasing vows and disciplines that caused his body to become extremely emaciated.