Shloka 23

Kāṣṭhīlā-Ākhyāna: Ratnāvalī’s Return, Co-wife Dharma, and the Phālguna Propitiation

Devanagari script

इयं तु राक्षसी दृष्ट्वा पतिं स्वं धर्मदूषकम् । विप्रेण संविदं कृत्वा दांपत्ये निजकर्मणा ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

iyaṃ tu rākṣasī dṛṣṭvā patiṃ svaṃ dharmadūṣakam | vipreṇa saṃvidaṃ kṛtvā dāṃpatye nijakarmaṇā || 23 ||

Translation

Doch diese Rākṣasī, da sie ihren eigenen Gatten als Verderber des Dharma erkannte, traf eine Abmachung mit einem Brāhmaṇa und ordnete durch ihr eigenes Tun ihr Eheleben danach.

Word by Word

• इयम्: this (woman)
• इयम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विभेदसूचक निपात (particle: 'but')

• राक्षसी: the demoness
• राक्षसी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—apposition to इयम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): 'having seen'

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• स्वम्: her own
• स्वम्: कर्म (Karma—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to पतिम्)

• धर्म-दूषकम्: corrupting/dishonoring dharma
• धर्म-दूषकम्: कर्म (Karma—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + दूषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—धर्मं दूषयति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थक); विशेषणम् (to पतिम्)

• विप्रेण: with a brahmin
• विप्रेण: सह (Saha/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• संविदम्: an agreement/compact
• संविदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of कृत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): 'having made'

• दाम्पत्ये: in married life / in the marital relation
• दाम्पत्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाम्पत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• निज-कर्मणा: by her own act/deed
• निज-कर्मणा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument-Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—निजं कर्म (कर्मधारय)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Uttara-Bhaga dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

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

It highlights vigilance in dharma: when close relationships become sources of adharma, one should seek righteous counsel (here, a brāhmaṇa) and act deliberately to preserve moral order.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by insisting on dharmic alignment in daily life; devotion to Vishnu is sustained by conduct that avoids dharma-corruption and seeks guidance from the virtuous.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to smārta-dharma praxis rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it emphasizes seeking brāhmaṇa guidance for correct conduct and social-ritual propriety (ācāra).