Shloka 59

Pātivratya-kathana

The Narrative of the Pativrata

Devanagari script

भर्तुरिष्टा पुरा वेश्या ह्यभवत्सा कुलेषु वै । शूद्रजातेः सुदुष्टस्य परित्यक्तक्रियस्य तु ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

bharturiṣṭā purā veśyā hyabhavatsā kuleṣu vai | śūdrajāteḥ suduṣṭasya parityaktakriyasya tu || 59 ||

Translation

كانت فيما مضى غانيةً محبوبةً لدى زوجها، تتردد بين بيوتٍ محترمة؛ ثم ارتبطت بعد ذلك برجلٍ من طبقة الشودرَة شديدِ الخبث، قد ترك جميع الشعائر والواجبات المقررة.

Word by Word

• भर्तुः: of the husband
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इष्टा: the beloved (wife)
• इष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• वेश्या: courtesan/prostitute
• वेश्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis

• अभवत्: was/became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुलेषु: in families
• कुलेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/indeed

• शूद्र-जातेः: of Śūdra birth
• शूद्र-जातेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष; शूद्रस्य जातिः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सु-दुष्टस्य: of a very wicked (man)
• सु-दुष्टस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying (implicit) पुरुषस्य

• परित्यक्त-क्रियस्य: of one who has abandoned rites/duties
• परित्यक्त-क्रियस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-√त्यज् (धातु) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष; ‘परित्यक्ता क्रिया यस्य’—usage close to बहुव्रीहि sense but form as determinative), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), contrast/emphasis

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana account in the Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It highlights how association with a person who has abandoned dharmic rites (kriyā) and proper conduct can accelerate moral and spiritual downfall, a recurring warning in Purāṇic dharma-narratives.

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

Indirectly, it contrasts dharmic discipline with adharma: stable conduct and prescribed duties support a mind fit for bhakti, while wicked association and neglect of kriyā obstruct devotional steadiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to the necessity of kriyā—regular prescribed acts (nitya/naimittika karma) grounded in Kalpa (ritual procedure) and supported by Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa for correct recitation and formulation of rites.