Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

रत्नावलिं रत्नभूतां सुद्युम्नस्य महीक्षितुः । तल्पथा रक्षसा रात्रौ स्वपुरस्था हृता द्विज ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

ratnāvaliṃ ratnabhūtāṃ sudyumnasya mahīkṣituḥ | talpathā rakṣasā rātrau svapurasthā hṛtā dvija || 5 ||

Translation

হে দ্বিজ! রাজা সুদ্যুম্নের রত্নস্বরূপা রত্নাবলীকে, নিজ নগরেই অবস্থানকালে, রাক্ষস তল্পথ রাত্রিতে অপহরণ করল।

Word by Word

• रत्नावलिम्: Ratnāvalī (the girl named Ratnāvalī)
• रत्नावलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्नावली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः रत्न + आवली (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्धारणार्थ)

• रत्नभूताम्: (who was) like a jewel
• रत्नभूताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्नभूता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रत्नावलीम्); समासः रत्न + भूता (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष—‘रत्नवत्/रत्नसदृशी’)

• सुद्युम्नस्य: of Sudyumna
• सुद्युम्नस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• महीक्षितुः: of the king (earth-protector)
• महीक्षितुः: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीक्षित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः मही + क्षित् (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष—‘पृथिवीं क्षिणोति/पालयति’ = king)

• तल्पथा: by/through the bed-path (from the bed)
• तल्पथा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल्पथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; साधन/मार्गवाचक-प्रयोगः

• रक्षसा: by a demon
• रक्षसा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्तृ-करण), एकवचन

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्वपुरस्थाः: being in her own city
• स्वपुरस्थाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वपुरस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रत्नावली); समासः स्व + पुर + स्था (तत्पुरुष—‘स्वपुरे स्थिता’)

• हृता: was abducted/taken away
• हृता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘was taken away’

• द्विज: O brāhmaṇa
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrator) to the assembled sages (dvijas)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhayanaka","secondary_rasa":"karuna","emotional_journey":"Begins with admiration for Ratnāvalī’s jewel-like virtue, then turns abruptly to fear and distress through her nocturnal abduction by a rākṣasa."}

Characters & Entities

• Sudyumna
• Ratnavali
• Talpatha

FAQs

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

It frames a dharmic crisis—an unjust abduction—setting the stage for the restoration of order (dharma) through righteous action, a common Purāṇic method for teaching protection of the innocent and the duties of kingship.

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

Bhakti is implied indirectly: in Purāṇic narrative, such calamities often turn characters toward refuge in the Lord and reliance on divine protection; the episode typically supports the teaching that remembrance and surrender to Hari/Vishnu steadies one amid adversity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedāṅga instruction appears in this verse; however, the detail “at night” aligns with Purāṇic attention to kāla (time) used in Jyotiṣa-informed ritual and narrative timing, often indicating secrecy, tamas, and vulnerability.