Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

तं मृतं पतिमादाय श्वश्रूरग्निं विवेश सा । ततो भर्तांजलिं दत्वा पित्रोः श्राद्धमथाकरोत् ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

taṃ mṛtaṃ patimādāya śvaśrūragniṃ viveśa sā | tato bhartāṃjaliṃ datvā pitroḥ śrāddhamathākarot || 57 ||

Translation

Prenant le corps de son époux défunt, elle entra dans le feu préparé par sa belle-mère. Puis, offrant avec révérence un añjali à son mari, elle accomplit les rites de śrāddha pour les pitṛs, les ancêtres.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — him/that

• मृतम्: dead
• मृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक; √मृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — dead

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

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), — having taken

• श्वश्रू: mother-in-law
• श्वश्रू: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वश्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — mother-in-law

• अग्निम्: fire
• अग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — fire

• विवेश: entered
• विवेश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — entered

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

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण — then

• भर्ता: (to) the husband
• भर्ता: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (भर्तारम्-आदेशरूपेण) — husband (object of offering)

• अञ्जलिम्: añjali (offering with joined palms)
• अञ्जलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — handful/añjali (joined palms offering)

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund) — having given

• पित्रोः: of (her) parents
• पित्रोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन — of the two parents/fathers

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha (funeral rite)
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — śrāddha rite

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आरम्भ/अनन्तरार्थक — then/thereupon

• अकरोत्: performed
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — did/performed

Speaker

Narada (narrating within a tirtha/mahatmya-style account in Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs (ancestors)
• Mother-in-law (śvaśrū)
• Husband (pati/bhartṛ)

FAQs

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

It underscores dharma around death-rites: honoring the departed and fulfilling pitṛ-obligations through śrāddha, which is presented as a sacred duty that supports the well-being of ancestors and the moral order.

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

While the verse is primarily ritual-dharma focused, it reflects bhakti as reverent duty—serving family and ancestors with sincerity, which in Purāṇic ethics is aligned with devotion and righteous conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through śrāddha performance and the sequence of death-related rites; it points to correct observance of prescribed samskāra/antyeṣṭi-related duties.