Shloka 74

The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada

Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma

Devanagari script

तद्विद्वांश्चारुनयने कथं भोक्ष्यामि पातकम् । मोहिन्युवाच । एकभुक्तेन नक्तेन तथैवायाचितेन च ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

tadvidvāṃścārunayane kathaṃ bhokṣyāmi pātakam | mohinyuvāca | ekabhuktena naktena tathaivāyācitena ca || 74 ||

Translation

Da sprach der Weise: „O du Schönäugige, obwohl ich es weiß—wie soll ich die Sünde sühnen?“ Mohinī erwiderte: „Indem du nur einmal am Tage isst, das naktā-Gelübde (die nächtliche Mahlzeit) hältst und ebenso Speise nur annimmst, wenn sie dir ungefragt gegeben wird.“

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विद्वान्: the learned one
• विद्वान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चारु-नयने: O one with beautiful eyes
• चारु-नयने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/सम्बोधन), द्विवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (चारुणि नयने यस्य/यस्याः) → चारुनयन; सम्बोधन द्विवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• भोक्ष्यामि: shall eat/consume
• भोक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पातकम्: sin
• पातकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मोहिनी: Mohinī
• मोहिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एक-भुक्तेन: by eating once
• एक-भुक्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + भुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; (पुं/नपुं) साधारण; समासः तत्पुरुषः (एकं भुक्तम् येन) → एकभुक्त; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle)

• नक्तेन: by (eating) at night
• नक्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘रात्रौ’ (night-only regimen)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अयाचितेन: by (food) not begged for (unsolicited)
• अयाचितेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयाचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग ‘अ-’ (negation) + याचित (क्त, √याच्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Mohinī

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī

FAQs

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

It teaches that purification from sin (pātaka) is supported by niyama—disciplined restraints—especially food-vows (vrata) that reduce indulgence and cultivate humility.

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

While not naming a deity here, it frames penance as inner regulation; such restraint traditionally strengthens sattva and steadiness, making one fit for sustained worship, japa, and devotional observances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline and vrata-practice are implied: ekabhukta (one meal), nakta (night-only meal), and ayācita (not soliciting food) function as practical dharma tools used in prāyaścitta frameworks.