Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

निद्रा दारिद्यजननी निद्रा श्रेयोविनाशिनी । नहि निद्रान्वितो राजा चिरं शास्ति वसुंधराम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

nidrā dāridyajananī nidrā śreyovināśinī | nahi nidrānvito rājā ciraṃ śāsti vasuṃdharām || 31 ||

Translation

Schlaf gebiert Armut; Schlaf vernichtet Wohlergehen und Gedeihen. Ein König, den der Schlaf überwältigt, herrscht nicht lange über die Erde.

Word by Word

• निद्रा: sleep
• निद्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दारिद्यजननी: the producer of poverty
• दारिद्यजननी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारिद्य-जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘निद्रा’; दारिद्यस्य जननी = ‘mother/cause of poverty’

• निद्रा: sleep
• निद्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रेयःविनाशिनी: destroyer of well-being
• श्रेयःविनाशिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेयस्-विनाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘निद्रा’; श्रेयसः विनाशिनी = ‘destroyer of welfare’

• नहि: indeed not / surely not
• नहि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नहि (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• निद्रान्वितः: sleep-afflicted
• निद्रान्वितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निद्रा-अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘राजा’; निद्रया अन्वितः = ‘endowed with sleep/sleepy’

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• चिरम्: for long
• चिरम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: long time)

• शास्ति: rules/governs
• शास्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वसुंधराम्: the earth
• वसुंधराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुंधरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

Speaker

Narada (instructional voice within the Uttara-Bhaga discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It frames excessive sleep as tamas that weakens dharma and effort, leading to decline; vigilance and self-mastery are presented as prerequisites for sustained prosperity and righteous leadership.

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

By warning against lethargy, it supports bhakti as a lived discipline: regular worship, remembrance, and service require wakeful steadiness rather than tamasic negligence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with dharmic daily regimen (ācāra) and time-discipline—useful for maintaining regularity in mantra-japa, vrata observance, and ritual timing, though no single Vedanga is explicitly taught in this verse.