Shloka 19

Mohinī-Saṃmohana

The Enchantment of Mohinī

Devanagari script

पितृस्थानाश्रयरता नारी तमसि मज्जति । सर्वधर्मविहीनापि नारी भवति सूकरी ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

pitṛsthānāśrayaratā nārī tamasi majjati | sarvadharmavihīnāpi nārī bhavati sūkarī || 19 ||

Translation

La mujer que se complace en refugiarse en el ámbito de los antepasados se hunde en la oscuridad (tamas). Aun privada de todo dharma, llega a ser una cerda en un nacimiento posterior.

Word by Word

• पितृस्थानाश्रयरता: devoted to the refuge of the father’s home
• पितृस्थानाश्रयरता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ-स्थान-आश्रय-रता (प्रातिपदिक; पितृ + स्थान + आश्रय + रता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (पितृस्थानस्य आश्रये रता = devoted to taking refuge in father’s place)

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तमसि: in darkness
• तमसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मज्जति: sinks/immerses
• मज्जति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वधर्मविहीना: devoid of all righteousness
• सर्वधर्मविहीना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-धर्म-विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेभ्यः धर्मेभ्यः विहीना = devoid of all dharma)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (even)

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सूकरी: a sow (female pig)
• सूकरी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूकरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhayanaka","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"A warning tone: attachment to the ‘pitṛ-place’ leads to sinking into tamas; it intensifies into a stark karmic consequence (rebirth as a sow), aiming to provoke moral correction."}

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It warns that clinging to a tamasic orientation—here framed as taking refuge in a lower ancestral-bound state instead of higher dharma—leads to spiritual decline and unfavorable rebirth, emphasizing dharma as the safeguard.

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

By contrast, it implies that one should not settle for lower, tamasic refuges but seek higher refuge through dharmic living and devotion to the Supreme (commonly taught in the Purana as Vishnu-bhakti), which uplifts consciousness rather than sinking into tamas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily ethical (dharma/karma) rather than technical Vedanga; practically, it supports correct application of dharma in rites connected with Pitrs (śrāddha/ancestral observances) without falling into tamasic conduct.