Shloka 2

Dialogue of Father and Son (Pitṛputra-saṃvāda) — Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

योजनायुतगामी च क्षणात्कृष्णहयो यथा । तदाकर्ण्य वचो राज्ञो मोहिनी मदलालसा ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

yojanāyutagāmī ca kṣaṇātkṛṣṇahayo yathā | tadākarṇya vaco rājño mohinī madalālasā || 2 ||

Translation

Wie ein dunkler Hengst, der in einem Augenblick zehntausend Yojanas durchmisst, so war die Schnelligkeit. Als Mohinī die Worte des Königs hörte, von berauschender Lust begierig, wurde sie erregt.

Word by Word

• योजन-अयुत-गामी: going ten-thousand yojanas
• योजन-अयुत-गामी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yojana (प्रातिपदिक) + ayuta (प्रातिपदिक) + gāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative singular (प्रथमा एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘going (a distance of) ten-thousand yojanas’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• क्षणात्: in a moment; instantly
• क्षणात्: Apadana (अपादान; time-from)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative singular (पञ्चमी एकवचन)

• कृष्ण-हयः: the black horse
• कृष्ण-हयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative singular (प्रथमा एकवचन); कर्मधारयः ‘black horse’

• यथा: as; like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), comparative particle (उपमा/यथार्थ)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म; object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative singular (द्वितीया एकवचन); pronoun used adverbially ‘that (statement)’

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+karṇ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having heard’

• वचः: words; speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative singular (द्वितीया एकवचन)

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive singular (षष्ठी एकवचन)

• मोहिनी: Mohinī
• मोहिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mohinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative singular (प्रथमा एकवचन)

• मद-लालसा: eager for intoxication/pleasure
• मद-लालसा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mada (प्रातिपदिक) + lālasā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative singular (प्रथमा एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘desirous of intoxication/pleasure’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator continuing the story)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī
• Rājā (the King)

FAQs

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

The verse uses the simile of a swift black horse to emphasize how quickly desire can be provoked by speech; it cautions that sensory craving (mada-lālasā) arises rapidly and must be restrained through dharma and discernment.

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

By highlighting the speed with which temptation arises, it indirectly teaches a bhakti-based discipline: keep the mind anchored in remembrance and self-control so that fleeting provocations do not overpower devotion and right conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedāṅga instruction appears in this verse; its practical takeaway is ethical—guarding speech and mind—supporting dharma that underlies proper ritual conduct (kalpa) and disciplined living.