Shloka 79

The Account of Kāṣṭhīlā (Kāṣṭhīlā-ākhyāna) within the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

सर्वयोषिद्वरा बाला रुदती निद्रयाकुला । पिता तस्याः प्रदाने तु चिंताविष्टो ह्यहर्न्निशम् ॥ ७९ ॥

Transliteration

sarvayoṣidvarā bālā rudatī nidrayākulā | pitā tasyāḥ pradāne tu ciṃtāviṣṭo hyaharnniśam || 79 ||

Translation

সকল নারীর মধ্যে শ্রেষ্ঠ সেই বালিকা কাঁদছিল, নিদ্রায় ব্যাকুল ছিল; কিন্তু তাকে বিবাহে দান করার চিন্তায় তার পিতা দিনরাত উদ্বিগ্ন রইল।

Word by Word

• सर्व-योषित्-वरा: best of all women
• सर्व-योषित्-वरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + योषित् (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वासां योषितां वरा’ (best among all women)

• बाला: the girl
• बाला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रुदती: crying
• रुदती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुदत् (कृदन्त, धातु √रुद्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle)

• निद्रया: by sleep
• निद्रया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• आकुला: disturbed, agitated
• आकुला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying बाला)

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रदाने: in (her) giving (in marriage)
• प्रदाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘प्रदाने’ = in giving (in marriage)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक (but/indeed)

• चिन्ता-आविष्टः: overcome by worry
• चिन्ता-आविष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + आविष्ट (कृदन्त, धातु √विश्/√आ-विश्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—चिन्तया आविष्टः (possessed by worry)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक (for/indeed)

• अहः-निशम्: day and night
• अहः-निशम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहः (प्रातिपदिक) + निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial) = day and night

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana account; dialogue context not explicit in this single verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It highlights the tension between worldly duty (dharma) and human emotion: the maiden’s suffering and the father’s constant anxiety around fulfilling a samskara, reminding readers that even righteous acts can be clouded by attachment and worry.

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

Though not explicitly devotional, it sets a narrative ground where worldly distress is evident—implying that surrender to Narayana/Vishnu and trust in divine order is the remedy when dharmic responsibilities become burdensome.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it points to samskara-prayoga (application of rites) connected to vivaha and kanyadana—areas guided by Kalpa (Vedanga) and customary dharma-shastra procedure, which can become a source of concern if not properly arranged.