Shloka 18

The Dialogue between Rukmāṅgada and Dharmāṅgada

Devanagari script

शासयित्वा कृताः सर्वे निराहारा हरेर्दिने । तेन मे न सुखं किंचिदवलीढं धरातले ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

śāsayitvā kṛtāḥ sarve nirāhārā harerdine | tena me na sukhaṃ kiṃcidavalīḍhaṃ dharātale || 18 ||

Translation

Nachdem sie bestraft worden waren, ließ man sie alle am heiligen Tage Haris ohne Speise bleiben. Darum habe ich auf Erden nicht einmal das geringste Glück gekostet.

Word by Word

• शासयित्वा: having disciplined/punished
• शासयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास् (धातु) [णिच् causative]
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative धातु (शासय-); क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• कृताः: made/caused (to be)
• कृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; (सर्वे/निराहाराः इत्यस्य विशेषणवत्)

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• निराहाराः: fasting
• निराहाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying सर्वे)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• दिने: on the day
• दिने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• तेन: by that/therefore
• तेन: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• मे: my/to me
• मे: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th) एकवचन (enclitic)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• सुखम्: happiness/comfort
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; अत्र कर्म/विषयभावः

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रमाण (indefinite)

• अवलीढम्: tasted/licked/enjoyed
• अवलीढम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-लिह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (सुखं किञ्चित् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• धरातले: on the earth’s surface
• धरातले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: धरायाः तलम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Uttara-Bhaga; dialogue frame traditionally tied to Narada’s instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how enforced austerity—especially fasting on Hari’s sacred day—can become a source of suffering when it is imposed as punishment rather than embraced as devotion, leading to a sense of joylessness in worldly life.

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

By centering the observance on “Hari’s day,” the verse points to Vishnu-oriented vrata practice; it implies that true bhakti is voluntary, faith-filled restraint, not mere external fasting done under compulsion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-style vrata practice) is implied through “nirāhāra” on a sacred tithi/day associated with Hari (commonly Ekādaśī), emphasizing correct observance of fasting rules as part of dharmic practice.