Shloka 47

Kāṣṭhīlā-Ākhyāna: Ratnāvalī’s Return, Co-wife Dharma, and the Phālguna Propitiation

Devanagari script

बहुवित्तयुतां विप्रो महोदयपुरं ययौ । आरुह्य करिणीरूपां राक्षसीं क्षणमात्रतः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

bahuvittayutāṃ vipro mahodayapuraṃ yayau | āruhya kariṇīrūpāṃ rākṣasīṃ kṣaṇamātrataḥ || 47 ||

Translation

ومضى البراهمنُ ومعه ثراءٌ كثيرٌ إلى مدينةِ مَهودايا؛ إذ ركبَ راكشَسِي (rākṣasī) قد اتخذت هيئةَ فيلةٍ، فبلغها في لحظةٍ واحدة.

Word by Word

• बहुवित्तयुताम्: endowed with much wealth
• बहुवित्तयुताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + वित्त + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष: ‘बहु वित्तं’ + ‘युता’ = ‘endowed with much wealth’

• विप्रः: the Brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• महोदयपुरम्: to Mahodayapura
• महोदयपुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदय + पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष: ‘महोदयस्य पुरम्’ (place-name)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having mounted/ascended’

• करिणीरूपाम्: (one) in the form of a she-elephant
• करिणीरूपाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करिणी + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष: ‘करिण्याः रूपम्’ → ‘having the form of a she-elephant’ (as epithet)

• राक्षसीम्: the demoness
• राक्षसीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• क्षणमात्रतः: in just a moment
• क्षणमात्रतः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षण + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb in -tas), ‘from/within only a moment’

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Mahodaya-pura
• rākṣasī

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purāṇic theme that worldly means (even wealth and extraordinary conveyance) can rapidly carry one to a famed place, yet the deeper purpose of such movement is to enter the sphere of tīrtha-māhātmya—where dharma and sacred merit are emphasized over mere speed or display.

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

Bhakti is implied indirectly: the journey to Mahodaya-pura functions as a gateway to hearing and performing sacred acts associated with the tīrtha; in the Narada Purana, such tīrtha narratives typically culminate in devotion to Hari/Vishnu through worship, vows, and remembrance, even if this particular line focuses on the travel event.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it primarily serves narrative momentum within a tīrtha-māhātmya context, preparing for subsequent ritual or merit-related instructions.