Shloka 12
Honoring the Mother (Mātṛpūjanam): Consent, Equity, and Dana to Restore Household Dharma
यासां न पादरजसा तुल्याहं भूपते क्वचित् । मोहिनी वचनं श्रुत्वा व्रीडितो ह्यभवन्नृपः ॥ १२ ॥
yāsāṃ na pādarajasā tulyāhaṃ bhūpate kvacit | mohinī vacanaṃ śrutvā vrīḍito hyabhavannṛpaḥ || 12 ||
“O king, I am never even equal to the dust of the feet of those noble women.” Hearing Mohinī’s words, the king indeed became ashamed.
Narrator (Purāṇic storyteller) describing Mohinī’s statement and the king’s reaction
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
The verse highlights vinaya (humility): true dharma is recognized by reverence for the virtuous, even considering oneself unworthy of “the dust of their feet,” which awakens moral self-awareness (vrīḍā) in the listener.
Bhakti is nurtured by humility and respect for sādhus and the righteous; Mohinī’s self-effacing reverence models the inner disposition that supports devotion—placing virtue above ego.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is directly taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (nīti/vinaya) within a Purāṇic narrative setting.