Shloka 20

The Account of Kāṣṭhīlā (Kāṣṭhīlā-ākhyāna) within the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

संध्या वलीवचः श्रुत्वा मोहिनी मोहकारिणी । उवाच कनकाभां तां भर्तुर्ज्येष्ठां प्रियां तदा ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

saṃdhyā valīvacaḥ śrutvā mohinī mohakāriṇī | uvāca kanakābhāṃ tāṃ bharturjyeṣṭhāṃ priyāṃ tadā || 20 ||

Translation

Al oír las palabras de Sandhyā, Mohinī —la que hechiza y provoca ilusión— se dirigió entonces a aquella mujer de fulgor dorado, la amada esposa mayor de su marido.

Word by Word

• संध्या: Sandhyā (name)
• संध्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative Singular

• वली-वचः: Valī’s words
• वली-वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वली (प्रातिपदिक) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वल्याः वचः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• मोहिनी: the enchantress
• मोहिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative Singular; (apposition to संध्या)

• मोह-कारिणी: causing delusion
• मोह-कारिणी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिणी (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (मोहं करोति इति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person) एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• कनक-आभाम्: golden-hued
• कनक-आभाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक) + आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (कनकस्य आभा यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular; विशेषणम् (of ताम्)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular

• भर्तुः: of (her) husband
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन; Genitive Singular

• ज्येष्ठाम्: elder/eldest
• ज्येष्ठाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular; विशेषणम् (of ताम्)

• प्रियाम्: beloved
• प्रियाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular; विशेषणम् (of ताम्)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration; specific speaker not explicit in this verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"bhayanaka","emotional_journey":"Narration introduces a turning point: after hearing counsel, the deluding Mohinī speaks—wonder mixed with unease at impending deception."}

Characters & Entities

• Sandhyā
• Mohinī
• Valī

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the motif of māyā (delusion): Mohinī is introduced as an active force that clouds discernment, setting up a moral-spiritual contrast between truth and enchantment within the Purāṇic narrative.

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

Indirectly, it shows why Bhakti traditions emphasize steadiness of mind and discrimination—because delusive forces (mohinī/mohakāriṇī) can divert one from dharma and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga instruction appears in this verse; it functions as narrative dialogue, though the emphasis on clear understanding aligns broadly with the Vyākaraṇa/Nyāya-style concern for precise meaning and discernment.