Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

कच्चिदृष्ट्वा स्वयं पुत्र हस्त्यश्वं परिरक्षसि । कच्चिच्च मातरः सर्वा ह्यविशेषेण पश्यसि ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

kaccidṛṣṭvā svayaṃ putra hastyaśvaṃ parirakṣasi | kaccicca mātaraḥ sarvā hyaviśeṣeṇa paśyasi || 28 ||

Translation

Mein Sohn, sorgst du persönlich für den Schutz der Elefanten und Pferde? Und schaust du nach allen Müttern ohne Unterschied, ohne irgendeine Trennung zu machen?

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: whether
• कच्चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्नसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having seen’

• स्वयम्: personally
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वयम्-शब्दः, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पुत्र: O son
• पुत्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• हस्ति-अश्वम्: elephants and horses
• हस्ति-अश्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (हस्तिनश्च अश्वाश्च = elephants and horses; here as a collective); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (समाहार/समूहार्थ)

• परिरक्षसि: you protect/guard
• परिरक्षसि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: परि

• कच्चित्: whether
• कच्चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्नसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मातरः: mothers
• मातरः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय

• अविशेषेण: without distinction, equally
• अविशेषेण: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अविशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (instrumental used adverbially): ‘without distinction’

• पश्यसि: you see/consider
• पश्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic dialogue voice within Narada Purana narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames dharma as hands-on responsibility: true righteousness is shown by personally safeguarding dependents (like royal animals) and honoring those deserving reverence (mothers) with impartial care.

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

Bhakti is not only worship but also service (seva) expressed as protection, fairness, and respect; caring for beings without bias becomes a lived offering aligned with sattvic devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyotiṣa, Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is rāja-nīti/ācāra—daily conduct and administrative vigilance as part of dharma.