Shloka 44

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

दुर्लभा वसुधा चीर्णं व्रतं पातकनाशनम् । धेनुस्तिलमयी सुभ्रु दुर्लभा विप्रगामिनी ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

durlabhā vasudhā cīrṇaṃ vrataṃ pātakanāśanam | dhenustilamayī subhru durlabhā vipragāminī || 44 ||

Translation

Ô toi aux beaux sourcils, Vasudhā — la Terre et ses dons — est difficile à obtenir; et le vœu (vrata), accompli selon le śāstra, devient destructeur des fautes. Rare est la vache façonnée de sésame (tilamaya-dhenu), plus rare encore lorsqu’elle est destinée à être donnée à un brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word

• दुर्लभा: rare
• दुर्लभा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; adjective used predicatively

• वसुधा: earth; land
• वसुधा: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• चीर्णम्: observed, practiced
• चीर्णम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर् (धातु) → चीर्ण (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• व्रतम्: vow, religious observance
• व्रतम्: कर्म/विषय (Karma/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• पातक-नाशनम्: sin-destroying
• पातक-नाशनम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पातक (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पातकस्य नाशनम्) used adjectivally for व्रतम्

• धेनुः: cow
• धेनुः: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तिल-मयी: made of sesame
• तिल-मयी: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तृतीया/उपपद-तत्पुरुषार्थे (तिलैः मयी = made of sesame)

• सुभ्रु: O fair-browed one
• सुभ्रु: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; indeclinable-like vocative form in -u

• दुर्लभा: rare
• दुर्लभा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; adjective used predicatively

• विप्र-गामिनी: going to/fit for a brāhmaṇa
• विप्र-गामिनी: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विप्रस्य गामिनी = going to/associated with a brāhmaṇa)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata/dāna-mahātmya passage; addressed to a female interlocutor)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It highlights that sincerely performed vratas and properly directed dāna (charity) function as pātaka-nāśana—means for reducing the burden of sin and purifying one’s life through dharmic discipline.

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

By stressing vow-observance and sacred gifting as purifying acts, it supports bhakti as a lived practice—devotion expressed through regulated conduct, self-restraint, and offerings aligned with śāstric injunctions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa/vidhi) is implied: the verse points to a specific dāna item (tila-dhenu) and the proper recipient (a brāhmaṇa), reflecting śāstric rules about materials, intention, and eligibility in rites.