Shloka 54

Mohinī-ākhyāna: The Trial of Ekādaśī and the King’s Satya-saṅkalpa

Devanagari script

यः कर्त्ता सुकृतं भूरि रक्ताशोकाकृतिः स्थितः । ध्वजांकुशांकितः श्रीमान्दक्षिणः कनकांगदः ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ karttā sukṛtaṃ bhūri raktāśokākṛtiḥ sthitaḥ | dhvajāṃkuśāṃkitaḥ śrīmāndakṣiṇaḥ kanakāṃgadaḥ || 54 ||

Translation

Celui qui accomplit d’innombrables actes méritoires se tient là, semblable à un aśoka rouge; marqué des emblèmes de l’étendard et de l’aṅkuśa, faste et rayonnant : c’est Dakṣiṇa, paré de bracelets d’or.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचकः सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• कर्त्ता: doer/agent
• कर्त्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक संज्ञा

• सुकृतम्: good deed/merit
• सुकृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भूरि: much/abundantly
• भूरि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूरि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/बहुत्ववाचक (adverb of quantity)

• रक्त: red
• रक्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• अशोक: Aśoka (tree)
• अशोक: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (member for compound)

• आकृतिः: form/appearance
• आकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रक्त-अशोक-आकृतिः = षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'रक्ताशोकस्य आकृतिः'

• स्थितः: standing/remaining
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ध्वज: banner/flag
• ध्वज: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member for compound)

• अंकुश: goad/elephant-hook
• अंकुश: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंकुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member for compound)

• अंकितः: marked/inscribed
• अंकितः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्क् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ध्वज-अंकुश-अंकितः = तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (instrumental determinative): 'ध्वजांकुशाभ्याम् अंकितः' (marked with banner and goad)

• श्रीमान्: splendid/fortunate
• श्रीमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• दक्षिणः: right (side)/southern; also 'skilful'
• दक्षिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कनक: gold
• कनक: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member for compound)

• अंगदः: armlet
• अंगदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंगद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कनक-अंगदः = षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'कनकस्य अंगदः' (golden armlet)

Speaker

Narada (within a Tirtha-Mahatmya narration of Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣiṇa

FAQs

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

The verse praises a personification/figure named Dakṣiṇa as one who embodies abundant sukṛta (spiritual merit), emphasizing that righteous acts (puṇya-karma) manifest as auspicious splendor and sacred marks.

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

While not explicitly teaching bhakti practices, it supports the bhakti-dharma worldview of the Narada Purana: sustained good deeds and sacred observances at tirthas cultivate śrī (auspicious grace), which is foundational for devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse chiefly uses lakṣaṇa-style description (identifying marks and forms), aligning more with Purāṇic iconographic convention than a specific Vedāṅga; it illustrates how traditional signs (aṅka/cihna) are used to identify sacred figures.