Shloka 12

Honoring the Mother (Mātṛpūjanam): Consent, Equity, and Dana to Restore Household Dharma

Devanagari script

यासां न पादरजसा तुल्याहं भूपते क्वचित् । मोहिनी वचनं श्रुत्वा व्रीडितो ह्यभवन्नृपः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

yāsāṃ na pādarajasā tulyāhaṃ bhūpate kvacit | mohinī vacanaṃ śrutvā vrīḍito hyabhavannṛpaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

„O König, ich bin niemals auch nur dem Staub an den Füßen jener edlen Frauen gleich.“ Als der König Mohinīs Worte hörte, wurde er wahrlich beschämt.

Word by Word

• yāsām: of whom
• yāsām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun; Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Bahuvacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• pāda-rajasā: with the dust of (their) feet
• pāda-rajasā: Karaṇa (Standard of comparison/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda + rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: pāda-rajas (dust of feet) = Tatpuruṣa; Napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Ekavacana

• tulyā: equal
• tulyā: Pradhāna (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective with implied ‘(I am) equal’

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bhūpate: O king
• bhūpate: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• kvacit: ever/anywhere
• kvacit: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb)

• mohinī: Mohinī (enchantress)
• mohinī: Karta (Speaker/agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mohinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (Absolutive/क्त्वान्त), ‘having heard’

• vrīḍitaḥ: ashamed
• vrīḍitaḥ: Pradhāna (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vrīḍita (√vrīḍ, कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (past passive participle/क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective of nṛpaḥ

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle)

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic storyteller) describing Mohinī’s statement and the king’s reaction

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī
• Nṛpa (King)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights vinaya (humility): true dharma is recognized by reverence for the virtuous, even considering oneself unworthy of “the dust of their feet,” which awakens moral self-awareness (vrīḍā) in the listener.

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

Bhakti is nurtured by humility and respect for sādhus and the righteous; Mohinī’s self-effacing reverence models the inner disposition that supports devotion—placing virtue above ego.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is directly taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (nīti/vinaya) within a Purāṇic narrative setting.