Shloka 21

Brahmā’s Discourse to Mohinī

Harivāsara, Desire, and the Satya-Test of Rukmāṅgada

Devanagari script

तस्मान्न वीक्षयेन्नारीं सुतां वापि वधूं नरः । साभिलाषेण मनसा तत्क्षणात्पतते नरः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

tasmānna vīkṣayennārīṃ sutāṃ vāpi vadhūṃ naraḥ | sābhilāṣeṇa manasā tatkṣaṇātpatate naraḥ || 21 ||

Translation

Deshalb sollte ein Mann eine Frau – sei es seine eigene Tochter oder Schwiegertochter – nicht mit von Begierde gefärbtem Geist anblicken; in ebenjenem Augenblick fällt er von der Rechtschaffenheit ab.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); अपादानार्थक-निपातवत् प्रयोगः; ‘therefore/from that reason’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• वीक्षयेत्: should look at
• वीक्षयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; धातुः: वीक्ष् ‘to see’

• नारीम्: a woman
• नारीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्

• सुताम्: (one’s) daughter
• सुताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘daughter’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• वधूम्: a bride/daughter-in-law
• वधूम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘bride/daughter-in-law’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्

• स-अभिलाषेण: with desire
• स-अभिलाषेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिलाष (प्रातिपदिक) + स (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः (Avyayībhāva): स + अभिलाष; तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्; पुं/नपुंसक-रूपेण ‘with desire’

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• तत्-क्षणात्: immediately
• तत्-क्षणात्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (Tatpuruṣa): तत् + क्षण; पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative), एकवचनम्; क्रियाविशेषणवत् ‘immediately/from that moment’

• पतते: falls
• पतते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातुः: पत् ‘to fall’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner intention (the desirous mind) is decisive in dharma: even a moment of lustful regard causes a moral and spiritual decline, so vigilance over thought and sight is essential.

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

Bhakti requires purity (śuddhi) and sense-restraint; by warning against lustful attention, the verse safeguards the devotee’s mind so it can remain steady in remembrance of the Divine rather than pulled outward by desire.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with śikṣā and dharma-śāstra style discipline: training attention, speech, and conduct (sadācāra) as practical supports for study, ritual life, and sustained spiritual practice.