Shloka 21
Mohinī-ākhyāna: The Trial of Ekādaśī and the King’s Satya-saṅkalpa
तेषामेव हि तत्पापं स्मृतिवैकल्यसम्भवम् । देवो वा दानवो वापि गन्धर्वो राक्षसोऽपि वा ॥ २१ ॥
teṣāmeva hi tatpāpaṃ smṛtivaikalyasambhavam | devo vā dānavo vāpi gandharvo rākṣaso'pi vā || 21 ||
Wahrlich, jene Sünde—aus einem Versagen des Erinnerns entstanden—gehört allein ihnen (die ihre rechte Pflicht vergessen). Ob Gott, Dānava, Gandharva oder gar Rākṣasa: das Prinzip bleibt dasselbe.
Narada (teaching in a dharma/tirtha-mahatmya discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It teaches that moral accountability is universal: sin arises when one loses recollection of dharma, regardless of birth or realm (deva, danava, gandharva, or rakshasa).
Bhakti is sustained by smṛti—constant remembrance of the Lord and one’s dharmic responsibilities; forgetfulness (smṛti-vaikalya) becomes the root condition that leads to wrongdoing.
The verse implicitly emphasizes smṛti as applied dharma-knowledge (connected to Kalpa/Dharmaśāstra practice): remembering prescribed conduct prevents ritual and ethical lapses.