Shloka 42

The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada

Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma

Devanagari script

एवंविधे वाद्यमाने पटहे मेघनिःस्वने । हस्ता दमुंच तांबूलं सकर्पूरं नृपोत्तमः ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃvidhe vādyamāne paṭahe meghaniḥsvane | hastā damuṃca tāṃbūlaṃ sakarpūraṃ nṛpottamaḥ || 42 ||

Translation

وبينما كان يُضرَب طبلٌ عظيم (پَطَهَ) يدوّي كقصف السحاب، أسقط أفضل الملوك من يده التامبولا (مضغة ورق التنبول) الممزوجة بالكافور.

Word by Word

• एवं-विधे: in such (a kind of)
• एवं-विधे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (‘एवम्-विध’ = of such a kind); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण (for पटहे)

• वाद्यमाने: while being played
• वाद्यमाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) / वाद् (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: शानच्/यमान-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/भावे कृदन्त (locative absolute sense); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पटहे: on the kettle-drum
• पटहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पटह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मेघ-निःस्वने: with a sound like thunder-clouds
• मेघ-निःस्वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + निःस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमा/षष्ठी: ‘मेघस्य निःस्वन इव’); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (for पटहे)

• हस्तात्: from (his) hand
• हस्तात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• दमुञ्च: release / let go
• दमुञ्च: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) उपसर्ग: द- (द्/दं- as preverb in text-tradition)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (आदेश/command form)

• ताम्बूलम्: betel (leaf preparation)
• ताम्बूलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• स-कर्पूरम्: with camphor
• स-कर्पूरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपपद) + कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (‘सह कर्पूरेण’ = with camphor); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (for ताम्बूलम्)

• नृप-उत्तमः: the best of kings
• नृप-उत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयार्थ: ‘उत्तमः नृपः’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana account)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It depicts a sudden inner shift caused by a powerful sacred or ceremonial moment: the king’s worldly act (holding tāmbūla) drops away as the ritual sound (paṭaha like thunder) commands full attention, signaling readiness for a transformative event in the tirtha narrative.

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

Though not a doctrinal bhakti instruction, it shows a classic bhakti mood: sensory absorption in sacred sound and ceremony, where ordinary pleasures are momentarily forgotten—an experiential cue that devotion reorients the heart away from casual enjoyment toward the divine occasion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it reflects ritual performance practice (kalpa/ācāra): ceremonial instruments like the paṭaha are used to mark auspicious proceedings in pilgrimage and temple contexts, emphasizing disciplined observance and signaling within public rites.