Shloka 68

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

प्रसीद राजेंद्र कुरुष्व वाक्यं मयेरितं चात्मवधाय सत्यम् । विमोचयेथा नृपते सुघोराद्वाक्यानृतान्मोहिनिहस्तयोगात् ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

prasīda rājeṃdra kuruṣva vākyaṃ mayeritaṃ cātmavadhāya satyam | vimocayethā nṛpate sughorādvākyānṛtānmohinihastayogāt || 68 ||

Translation

Sois gracieux, ô seigneur des rois ; accomplis la parole que j'ai prononcée, vraie même si elle conduit à ma propre mort. Ô roi, tu seras ainsi libéré du lien le plus redoutable : le mensonge dans la parole, provoqué par l'illusion et la contrainte d'autrui.

Word by Word

प्रसीदbe pleased; be gracious

राजेन्द्रO king of kings

कुरुष्वdo; perform

वाक्यम्the statement; the word

मयाby me

ईरितम्uttered; spoken

चand

आत्मवधायfor (your) self-destruction

सत्यम्true

विमोचयेथाःyou should free; you may release

नृपतेO king

सु-घोरात्from the very terrible (thing)

वाक्य-अनृतात्from the untrue statement

मोहिनी-हस्त-योगात्from the contact/union with Mohinī’s hand

Speaker

Unspecified (dialogue verse: a speaker addressing a king within the Adhyaya narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

The verse elevates satya (truth) as a liberating dharma: even when truth is personally costly, adherence to it frees one from the terrifying bondage of anṛta (falsehood) born of moha (delusion) and coercive action.

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

Bhakti is grounded in inner integrity; truthful speech and fearless dharmic action purify the heart, making devotion stable and fit for grace—contrasting delusion-driven, coerced wrongdoing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa and disciplined vāk (speech) are implicitly emphasized: vākya (utterance) must align with satya, and one should avoid vākya-anṛta—speech that violates dharma and produces pāpa.