Shloka 15

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

मंत्रहीनविधिं युद्धं धर्मं च दयया विना । पृथ्वीं भूपालहीना वा मंत्रही नोयथा नृप ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

maṃtrahīnavidhiṃ yuddhaṃ dharmaṃ ca dayayā vinā | pṛthvīṃ bhūpālahīnā vā maṃtrahī noyathā nṛpa || 15 ||

Translation

حربٌ تُخاض بلا مشورةٍ ولا نظامٍ صحيح، ودَرمٌ يُمارَس بلا رحمة؛ وكذلك أرضٌ بلا ملكٍ حامٍ—كلّ ذلك عبثٌ، كحاكمٍ محرومٍ من وزراء حكماء.

Word by Word

• mantra-hīna-vidhim: a procedure/rite without mantras
• mantra-hīna-vidhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः तत्पुरुषः (mantraiḥ hīnaḥ vidhiḥ = a rite/procedure lacking mantras)

• yuddham: battle/war
• yuddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dharmam: dharma/righteousness
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक निपात)

• dayayā: with compassion
• dayayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vinā: without
• vinā: Nivṛtti/Apavarga-dyotaka (निवृत्ति-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (उपपद-अव्यय) governing instrumental/accusative; here with instrumental dayayā

• pṛthvīm: the earth/kingdom
• pṛthvīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhūpāla-hīnām: without a ruler
• bhūpāla-hīnām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūpāla (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (bhūpālasya hīnā = without a king)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa-dyotaka (विकल्प-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• mantra-hīnaḥ: without counsel/mantra
• mantra-hīnaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (mantrasya hīnaḥ = lacking counsel/mantra)

• na: not
• na: Niṣedha-dyotaka (निषेध-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध निपात)

• yathā: as/just as
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative indeclinable

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (instructional voice within the Narada Purana’s didactic discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharma is not merely external rule-following; without daya (compassion) and wise mantra (counsel), even “righteous” action becomes hollow, and governance loses its sacred purpose of protecting beings.

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

Bhakti is expressed through kindness and protection of life; this verse aligns devotion with ethical living—compassion becomes a lived offering, not just a ritual identity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It underscores the importance of vidhi (proper procedure), a core Vedic principle applied to action—suggesting disciplined method and informed counsel, akin to the procedural precision emphasized in Kalpa (ritual/disciplinary Vedanga).