Shloka 72

The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada

Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma

Devanagari script

विश्वस्तघातके चापि मृतवत्साप्रदोग्धरि । ददामीति द्विजाग्र्याय प्रतिश्रुत्य न दातरि ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

viśvastaghātake cāpi mṛtavatsāpradogdhari | dadāmīti dvijāgryāya pratiśrutya na dātari || 72 ||

Translation

Asimismo, incurre en pecado quien traiciona a quien confió en él; quien intenta ordeñar a una vaca cuyo ternero ha muerto; y quien, tras prometer a un brahmán eminente: «Daré», no da.

Word by Word

• विश्वस्तघातके: in (the case of) a killer of the trusting
• विश्वस्तघातके: अधिकरण (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वस्त + घातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘trusting/unsuspecting’ + ‘killer’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• मृतवत्साप्रदोग्धरि: in (the case of) one who milks a cow whose calf is dead
• मृतवत्साप्रदोग्धरि: अधिकरण (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृतवत्सा + प्रदोग्धृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘having a dead calf’ (cow) + ‘milker’)

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यपरिसमाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• द्विजाग्र्याय: to an excellent brahmin
• द्विजाग्र्याय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + अग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘twice-born’ + ‘chief’)

• प्रतिश्रुत्य: having promised
• प्रतिश्रुत्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + श्रु (धातु) → प्रतिश्रुत्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वा-भाव)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having promised’

• न: not
• न: निषेध (negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• दातरि: in (the case of) a non-giver
• दातरि: अधिकरण (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दा (धातु) → दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘in/with respect to a giver’; here: ‘in (the case of) one who does not give’ (with न)

Speaker

Narada (teaching a dharma-list within the Uttara-Bhaga narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (Brahmin)

FAQs

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

It equates betrayal of trust and breaking a promised gift with grave adharma, teaching that inner integrity (satya) and reliability are essential for spiritual merit.

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

Bhakti requires sincerity; one cannot claim devotion while harming the trusting or speaking false promises—ethical purity supports genuine Vishnu-bhakti in Purāṇic dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Not a Vedāṅga technique, but practical dharma-nīti: truthful speech, honoring commitments of dāna, and avoiding exploitative acts—core disciplines that uphold ritual and spiritual life.