Shloka 64

Brahmā’s Discourse to Mohinī

Harivāsara, Desire, and the Satya-Test of Rukmāṅgada

Devanagari script

सुरतस्रं सकारी मे ह्युपवासो भवेत्प्रिय । सुमुग्धां यौवनोपेतां स्वभार्यां यो न सेवते ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

suratasraṃ sakārī me hyupavāso bhavetpriya | sumugdhāṃ yauvanopetāṃ svabhāryāṃ yo na sevate || 64 ||

Translation

„Geliebte, für mich wird schon die Enthaltung von ehelicher Nähe zu einer Art Fasten. Wer seiner eigenen Frau—reizvoll und in der Blüte der Jugend—nicht liebevoll nahekommt und sie nicht umsorgt, der verfehlt die Hausstands-Dharma.“

Word by Word

• सुरतस्रम्: depriving of lovemaking
• सुरतस्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरतस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; predicate adjective with ‘उपवासः’ (sense: ‘causing loss of sexual pleasure’)

• सकारी: harmful / causing loss
• सकारी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective with ‘उपवासः’

• मे: for me / to me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative/Genitive enclitic, Singular; here Genitive (6th/षष्ठी) ‘for me/to me’ contextually

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/reason

• उपवासः: fasting
• उपवासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• भवेत्: would be / becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; परस्मैपद

• प्रिय: O dear (one)
• प्रिय: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; address

• सुमुग्धाम्: very charming
• सुमुग्धाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमुग्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying ‘स्वभार्याम्’; समास: सु + मुग्धा

• यौवनोपेताम्: endowed with youth
• यौवनोपेताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यौवनोपेता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समास: यौवन + उपेता (तत्पुरुष: ‘endowed with youth’)

• स्वभार्याम्: his own wife
• स्वभार्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समास: स्व + भार्या (‘one’s own wife’)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• सेवते: serves/enjoys (consorts with)
• सेवते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सेव् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames self-restraint in sensual life as a form of austerity (upavāsa-like discipline) while simultaneously reminding that household dharma includes responsible, affectionate care of one’s spouse.

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

By emphasizing disciplined living and faithful household conduct, it supports the bhakti ideal that devotion is sustained by purity, restraint, and dharmic relationships—not merely by external ritual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Kalpa (dharma and ritual discipline): it equates regulated abstinence with vrata-like practice and links personal conduct to religious observance.