Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

का सा सीमंतिनी लोके भवेदेतादृशी क्वचित् । आत्मप्राणसमं कांतमन्यस्त्रीकुचपीडनम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

kā sā sīmaṃtinī loke bhavedetādṛśī kvacit | ātmaprāṇasamaṃ kāṃtamanyastrīkucapīḍanam || 22 ||

Translation

Welche verheiratete Frau auf dieser Welt könnte jemals so sein? Sie drückt die Brüste einer anderen Frau an ihren Geliebten, der ihr so teuer ist wie ihr eigener Lebensatem.

Word by Word

• का: who
• का: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• सा: that
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• सीमन्तिनी: married woman
• सीमन्तिनी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीमन्तिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: could be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतादृशी: such as this
• एतादृशी: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying sīmaṃtinī)

• क्वचित्: anywhere/ever
• क्वचित्: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = somewhere/ever

• आत्म-प्राण-समम्: equal to (her) own life
• आत्म-प्राण-समम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला: ‘आत्मनः प्राणाः’ (one’s own life-breath) + ‘सम’ (equal to)

• कान्तम्: beloved husband
• कान्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; understood with tolerates/accepts)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्य-स्त्री-कुच-पीडनम्: pressing another woman’s breasts
• अन्य-स्त्री-कुच-पीडनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to kāntam’s act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कुच (प्रातिपदिक) + पीडन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला: ‘अन्यस्याः स्त्रियाः कुचाः’ + ‘पीडनम्’ (pressing)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice; dialogue context within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It highlights a dharmic critique of misplaced intimacy and loss of propriety, using a sharp rhetorical question to underscore self-restraint and moral discernment in worldly relationships.

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

By indirectly teaching control of desire and fidelity, it supports the bhakti ideal of disciplining the senses (indriya-nigraha), which steadies the mind for remembrance of the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is niti-based guidance for gṛhastha conduct—maintaining maryādā (social-religious boundaries) and self-control.