Shloka 16

Devanagari script

वाचा शपथदोषैस्तु संनिरुध्य पतिं हि या । अकार्यं कारयेत्पापा सा नारी निरये वसेत् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

vācā śapathadoṣaistu saṃnirudhya patiṃ hi yā | akāryaṃ kārayetpāpā sā nārī niraye vaset || 16 ||

Translation

La mujer pecadora que, con su palabra—valiéndose de los defectos de juramentos y maldiciones—restringe a su esposo y lo obliga a hacer lo que no debe hacerse, mora en el infierno.

Word by Word

• वाचा: by speech/words
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• शपथ-दोषैः: by the faults of (her) oaths
• शपथ-दोषैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शपथ (प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शपथस्य दोषाः = faults of oaths)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; contrast/emphasis

• संनिरुध्य: having restrained/confined
• संनिरुध्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-नि-रुध् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having restrained)

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• या: she who
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• अकार्यम्: a wrongful act
• अकार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कारयेत्: should cause (him) to do
• कारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: makes (someone) do)

• पापा: sinful
• पापा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘सा’)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• नारी: woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अपपद-समानााधिकरण (apposition to ‘सा’)

• निरये: in hell
• निरये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वसेत्: should dwell
• वसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-instruction context; dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara lineage assumed for this section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It warns that manipulating others—especially one’s spouse—through coercive speech (oaths, threats, imprecations) to commit adharma creates severe karmic bondage, leading to painful post-death consequences.

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

Bhakti is grounded in sattvic conduct—truthful, non-harming speech and support of dharma. This verse implies that devotion cannot be separated from ethical restraint; coercion and adharma contradict a Vishnu-bhakta’s character.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It underscores disciplined use of speech aligned with dharma—an applied aspect of Śikṣā (proper speech) and Vyākaraṇa (responsible, precise language), emphasizing that words can create karmic outcomes when used as threats or binding oaths.