Shloka 13

Brahmā’s Discourse to Mohinī

Harivāsara, Desire, and the Satya-Test of Rukmāṅgada

Devanagari script

वधूं वा भ्रातृजायां वा गुरोभार्यां नृपस्त्रियम् । स याति नरकं घोरं संचिंत्य श्वपचीमपि ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

vadhūṃ vā bhrātṛjāyāṃ vā gurobhāryāṃ nṛpastriyam | sa yāti narakaṃ ghoraṃ saṃciṃtya śvapacīmapi || 13 ||

Translation

যে ব্যক্তি পুত্রবধূ, ভ্রাতৃবধূ, গুরুর পত্নী বা রাজার স্ত্রীর প্রতি মনে কামনা পোষে, সে ভয়ংকর নরকে যায়—এমনকি শ্বপচী নারীকেও কামভাবে চিন্তা করলেও।

Word by Word

• वधूम्: a bride/daughter-in-law
• वधूम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात

• भ्रातृजायाम्: brother’s wife
• भ्रातृजायाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ + जाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: 'भ्रातुः जाया' ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नृपस्त्रियम्: a king’s wife
• नृपस्त्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: 'नृपस्य स्त्री' ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरकम्: to hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of नरकम्

• संचिन्त्य: having thought of
• संचिन्त्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/absolutive): 'having thought/considered'

• श्वपचीम्: a woman of a dog-cooker caste (outcaste woman)
• श्वपचीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वपची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (even)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharma begins in the mind: even entertaining illicit desire toward protected women is treated as grave pāpa, leading to severe karmic consequences.

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

By insisting on inner purity and restraint, it supports bhakti as a disciplined life where the mind is guarded, making the heart fit for steady remembrance of Viṣṇu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa-style precision in categories (vadhū, bhrātṛjāyā, gurobhāryā, nṛpastrī) reinforces dharma-śāstra classification: identifying rakṣitā-strī (protected women) and the rule that even manasa-saṅkalpa (mental intent) carries karmic weight.