Shloka 44

Saṃdhyāvalī-ākhyāna

Mohinī-parīkṣā; Dvādaśī-vrata-mahattva

Devanagari script

विरोचनवधायाशु प्रार्थयामासुरादरात् । तच्छ्रुत्वा शक्रमुख्यानां कार्यं कार्यविदां वरः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

virocanavadhāyāśu prārthayāmāsurādarāt | tacchrutvā śakramukhyānāṃ kāryaṃ kāryavidāṃ varaḥ || 44 ||

Translation

With haste and reverence they petitioned for the slaying of Virocana. Hearing this, the foremost among those who know what must be done undertook the task for Indra and the other leading gods.

Word by Word

• विरोचन-वधाय: for the slaying of Virocana
• विरोचन-वधाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरोचन (प्रातिपदिक) + वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—विरोचनस्य वधः

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• प्रार्थयामासुः: they requested
• प्रार्थयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; ‘प्रार्थय’ = णिच्-प्रयोग (causative stem)

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव (Gerund/Absolutive)

• शक्र-मुख्यानाम्: of those headed by Śakra (Indra)
• शक्र-मुख्यानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—शक्रः मुख्यः येषां ते (शक्रमुख्याः)

• कार्यम्: the task
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कार्य-विदाम्: of the knowers of what is to be done
• कार्य-विदाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु, क्तिन्/प्रातिपदिक ‘विद्’ → ‘विद्/विद्’ as knower; here ‘विद्’ in ‘विद्’ sense via ‘विद्’→‘विद्’/‘विद्’ nominal)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—कार्यं विदन्ति ये (कार्यविदः)

• वरः: the best/excellent one
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator in Uttara-Bhāga context; traditionally Sūta conveying the account)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Virocana
• Śakra (Indra)

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic responsiveness: when cosmic order is threatened, the wise act decisively—turning prayer and appeal into righteous, timely action (kārya).

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

Bhakti here is shown as earnest, reverent supplication (ādarāt prārthanā) to higher authority; devotion is not passive—it seeks divine help so that dharma may be restored.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on discernment of proper action (kārya-jñāna), aligned with Dharmaśāstra-style decision-making; no specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is explicitly invoked in this verse.