Shloka 127

The Account of Kāṣṭhīlā (Kāṣṭhīlā-ākhyāna) within the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

स्त्रीसंगमे तरुच्छेदे यत्पापं शशिनः क्षये । यदुच्छिष्टे घृतं भोक्तुर्मैथुनेन दिवा च यत् ॥ १२७ ॥

Transliteration

strīsaṃgame tarucchede yatpāpaṃ śaśinaḥ kṣaye | yaducchiṣṭe ghṛtaṃ bhokturmaithunena divā ca yat || 127 ||

Translation

Whatever sin is incurred by intercourse with a woman at an improper time, by cutting down a tree, by acting at the waning of the moon, by eating ghee left as another’s remnants, and by sexual union in the daytime—all that is referred to here as comparable demerit.

Word by Word

• स्त्री-सङ्गमे: in intercourse/union with a woman
• स्त्री-सङ्गमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• तरु-च्छेदे: in cutting a tree
• तरु-च्छेदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरु (प्रातिपदिक) + छेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शशिनः: of the moon
• शशिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षये: at the waning/decline
• क्षये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उच्छिष्टे: in a state of leftovers/impurity
• उच्छिष्टे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण ‘in/when (food is) left-over/impure’

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (भोज्-सम्बन्धे)

• भोक्तुः: of the eater
• भोक्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज् (धातु) → भोक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of the eater’

• मैथुनेन: by sexual intercourse
• मैथुनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण (instrument/means)

• दिवा: by day, in daytime
• दिवा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a dharma/expiation-oriented passage; traditional dialogue framework with Sanatkumara lineage in Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (general niyamas; lunar-phase and conduct restrictions)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Shashi (Moon)

FAQs

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

The verse groups several actions—improper sexual conduct, harming trees, disregarding lunar sanctity, and eating impure remnants—as spiritually demeritorious, emphasizing śauca (purity) and disciplined ācāra as foundations for dharma.

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

Bhakti in the Narada Purana is supported by purity and restraint; by warning against actions that generate pāpa and mental agitation, the verse indirectly protects the steadiness needed for Vishnu-bhakti, japa, vrata, and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa-oriented ritual timing awareness (lunar phases like śaśinaḥ kṣaya) and Dharmaśāstra-style ācāra rules about food purity (ucchiṣṭa) and conduct (divā-maithuna).