Shloka 38

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

गोवधं समवाप्नोति स नरो नात्र संशयः । तस्माद्देयं वरारोहे अभीष्टं वरसुन्दरि ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

govadhaṃ samavāpnoti sa naro nātra saṃśayaḥ | tasmāddeyaṃ varārohe abhīṣṭaṃ varasundari || 38 ||

Translation

Ese hombre incurre en el pecado de matar una vaca; de ello no hay duda. Por eso, oh dama de nobles caderas y hermosa figura, lo que se desea debe ser dado en caridad.

Word by Word

• गो-वधम्: cow-slaughter (sin of killing a cow)
• गो-वधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गवां वधः)

• समवाप्नोति: attains/incurs
• समवाप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अव + √आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• नरः: man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• न: no/not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधबोधक अव्यय; ‘न + अत्र’ इत्यत्र नकारः ‘न’ (not) अर्थे, न तु ‘नात्र’ = ‘not here’ इति

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: here/in this matter)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति तद्धित/सर्वनाम-रूपं; पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (therefore/from that reason)

• देयम्: should be given
• देयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देय (कृदन्त; √दा (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘to be given’

• वर-आरोहे: O fair-hipped lady
• वर-आरोहे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आरोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वरा आरोहा यस्याः) — vocative address

• अभीष्टम्: the desired (thing)
• अभीष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीष्ट (कृदन्त; अभि + √इष् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2nd/1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त — ‘desired (thing)’

• वर-सुन्दरि: O most beautiful lady
• वर-सुन्दरि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वरा सुन्दरी)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada; addressing a woman/listener as varārohe/varasundari in the narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It stresses the extreme gravity of harming cows and frames generous giving (dāna) as an essential safeguard of dharma, especially within a tīrtha/merit-oriented context.

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

By warning against a major dharmic offense and urging selfless giving, it supports bhakti as a life of purity, compassion, and service—ethical conduct that sustains devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Śikṣā) is taught in this verse; it primarily conveys dharma-śāstric guidance on pāpa (sin) and dāna (charity).