Shloka 17

Śikṣā-nirūpaṇa (Exposition of Discipline): Son’s Marriage, Paternal Duty, and Royal Administration

Devanagari script

स्वीचकार पितुर्वाक्याद्दारसंग्रहणं तदा । वरुणात्मजया सार्द्धं नागकन्या मनोहराः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

svīcakāra piturvākyāddārasaṃgrahaṇaṃ tadā | varuṇātmajayā sārddhaṃ nāgakanyā manoharāḥ || 17 ||

Translation

Then, in obedience to his father’s command, he accepted marriage; and along with Varuṇa’s daughter, he also took the charming Nāga-maidens as wives.

Word by Word

• svī-cakāra: accepted
• svī-cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: svī (नामधातु/धातु) + √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘accepted/made his own’ (समासवत् क्रियापद)

• pituḥ: of (his) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• vākyāt: from/because of the words
• vākyāt: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; कारणार्थे (because of/from the words)

• dāra-saṃgrahaṇam: acceptance of a wife/marriage
• dāra-saṃgrahaṇam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃgrahaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘taking/accepting a wife’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• varuṇa-ātmajayā: with Varuṇa’s daughter
• varuṇa-ātmajayā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘Varuṇa’s daughter’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• sārdham: together with
• sārdham: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (अव्यय)
• Form: सहवाचक-अव्यय (with/together with)

• nāga-kanyāḥ: Nāga maidens
• nāga-kanyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; additional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक) + kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘serpent-maidens’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• manoharāḥ: charming/beautiful
• manoharāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manohara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (here agreeing with kanyāḥ: स्त्रीलिङ्ग), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Naga-kanyas

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma expressed as honoring an elder’s injunction—accepting household duties (including marriage) as part of one’s ordained life-path within a sacred narrative.

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

Indirectly: by showing disciplined acceptance of dharma and social responsibility, it supports the inner steadiness needed for bhakti, even though the verse itself is not a direct bhakti instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedāṅga teaching is stated; the practical takeaway is dharma-shastra-aligned conduct regarding vivāha (marriage) and obedience to familial authority.