Shloka 73

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

पालनं पापयुक्तस्य न कुर्वंति दिवौकसः । धर्माधाराः स्मृता देवा धर्मो वेदेसमास्थितः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

pālanaṃ pāpayuktasya na kurvaṃti divaukasaḥ | dharmādhārāḥ smṛtā devā dharmo vedesamāsthitaḥ || 72 ||

Translation

The gods who dwell in heaven do not protect one who is entangled in sin. The devas are said to be established upon Dharma, and Dharma itself is firmly grounded in the Veda.

Word by Word

• पालनम्: protection/maintenance
• पालनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पापयुक्तस्य: of one associated with sin
• पापयुक्तस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप-युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पापेन युक्त)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• कुर्वन्ति: do
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दिवौकसः: the gods/heaven-dwellers
• दिवौकसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्-ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दिवि ओकः यस्य = heaven-dweller)

• धर्माधाराः: supports of dharma
• धर्माधाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य आधारः)

• स्मृताः: are considered/called
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are called/considered’

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वेदे: in the Veda
• वेदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• समास्थितः: is established
• समास्थितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘established/grounded’

Speaker

Narada (instructional voice within the Narada Purana’s dharma discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Deva
• Dharma
• Veda

FAQs

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

It asserts that divine support aligns with Dharma: protection is not automatic, and the devas act in harmony with Vedic Dharma rather than overriding the moral law of karma.

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

It implies that genuine bhakti is not a license for wrongdoing; devotion must be accompanied by dharmic conduct rooted in Vedic principles, which makes one fit for divine grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to Vedic pramāṇa (authority): Dharma is to be discerned from the Veda—practically supported by Vedanga tools like Vyākaraṇa (clarifying meaning) and Kalpa (ritual/duty procedure).