Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

क्रीडार्थमागता बाला मन्दराचलमन्दिरात् । तत्पुत्रवचनं श्रुत्वा वेपमाना हि मातरः ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

krīḍārthamāgatā bālā mandarācalamandirāt | tatputravacanaṃ śrutvā vepamānā hi mātaraḥ || 28 ||

Translation

Das junge Mädchen war aus dem Tempel auf dem Berg Mandara gekommen, um zu spielen. Als die Mütter die Worte ihres Sohnes hörten, begannen sie wahrlich zu zittern.

Word by Word

• krīḍā-artham: for play
• krīḍā-artham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); purpose-accusative (प्रयोजनार्थ)

• āgatā: having come
• āgatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgata (कृदन्त; √gam ‘to go/come’, past participle)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bālā: the girl
• bālā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mandara-acala-mandirāt: from the palace/temple on Mandara mountain
• mandara-acala-mandirāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandara (प्रातिपदिक) + acala (प्रातिपदिक) + mandira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); source (अपादान)

• tat-putra-vacanam: the words of that son
• tat-putra-vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक) + vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा; अव्ययीभाव-स्वरूप)

• vepamānāḥ: trembling
• vepamānāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vepamāna (कृदन्त; √vep ‘to tremble’, present participle शतृ)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with mātaraḥ

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (अव्यय; emphasis/causal nuance)

• mātaraḥ: mothers
• mātaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator within Uttara-Bhāga; dialogue tradition often framed via Sūta—exact speaker not explicit in this single verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Mandarācala (Mount Mandara)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes how events connected with a sacred temple setting (Mandarācala-mandira) can suddenly turn serious, provoking fear and moral alertness—typical of Tīrtha-Māhātmya narratives that motivate dharma and reverence for holy places.

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

Indirectly: the scene is anchored at a temple on a sacred mountain, showing life revolving around a shrine; the emotional tremor of the mothers signals the gravity of speech and conduct in a holy environment—an atmosphere that supports disciplined devotion and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it functions as narrative continuity in a Tīrtha-Māhātmya episode rather than a technical instruction.