Shloka 20

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

मोहिन्याः कुरु वाक्यं तु आत्मनः सत्यपालनात् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

mohinyāḥ kuru vākyaṃ tu ātmanaḥ satyapālanāt || 20 ||

Translation

Erfülle daher Mohinīs Bitte, denn dies entspricht deiner eigenen Pflicht, die Wahrheit zu wahren.

Word by Word

• mohinyāḥ: of Mohinī
• mohinyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mohinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: लिङ्गम्—स्त्रीलिङ्ग, विभक्तिः—षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), वचनम्—एकवचन

• kuru: do / perform
• kuru: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लकारः—लोट् (Imperative), पुरुषः—मध्यम (2nd), वचनम्—एकवचन, पदम्—परस्मैपदम्

• vākyam: the word / command
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• tu: but / indeed
• tu: Discourse marker (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• ātmanaḥ: of yourself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• satya-pālanāt: from/for the keeping of truth
• satya-pālanāt: Hetu (हेतु; कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + pālana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of truth'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrating/teaching in dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī

FAQs

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

It elevates satya (truthfulness) as a binding spiritual vow: honoring truth and one’s word is itself dharma and becomes a means of inner purity.

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

Bhakti is grounded in integrity; keeping truth and honoring righteous requests aligns one’s conduct with dharma, making devotion steady and trustworthy.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights niti and dharma-based discipline rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it teaches vrata-like commitment to satya—following through on a righteous instruction.