Shloka 21

Mohinī-prashna

The Question about Mohinī

Devanagari script

उभयोर्यन्न दृष्टं हि तत्पुराणैः प्रगीयते । प्रायश्चित्तं तु हत्यायामातुरस्यौषधं प्रिये ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

ubhayoryanna dṛṣṭaṃ hi tatpurāṇaiḥ pragīyate | prāyaścittaṃ tu hatyāyāmāturasyauṣadhaṃ priye || 21 ||

Translation

Apa yang tidak terdapat dalam Śruti maupun Smṛti, itulah yang dinyanyikan oleh Purāṇa. Dan bagi dosa pembunuhan, wahai kekasih, prāyaścitta adalah obat bagi yang menderita.

Word by Word

• उभयोः: of both (Veda and Smṛti)
• उभयोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); द्विवचन; (of both)

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• दृष्टम्: seen, found
• दृष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया as predicate in relative clause)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतुवाचक

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; तद्-निर्देशक (correlative)

• पुराणैः: by the Purāṇas
• पुराणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचन

• प्रगीयते: is proclaimed
• प्रगीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + गै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: 'is sung/proclaimed')

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, implied 'is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राय + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रायः चित्तम्/प्रायश्चित्तम् = expiation)

• तु: and, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक

• हत्यायाम्: in the case of killing
• हत्यायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन

• आतुरस्य: of a sick person
• आतुरस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन

• औषधम्: medicine, remedy
• औषधम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; विधेय (as predicate: 'is medicine')

• प्रिये: O dear one
• प्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue form)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Purana
• Shruti
• Smriti
• Prayashchitta

FAQs

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

It affirms the Purāṇas as a guiding authority for dharma when specific details are not explicitly found in Śruti and Smṛti, and it frames prāyaścitta as a compassionate remedy that restores inner and social order after grave wrongdoing.

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

By calling expiation a “medicine,” the verse implies purification rather than despair; such purification supports sincere repentance and renewed alignment with dharma—an essential foundation for steady Vishnu-bhakti and disciplined spiritual life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Dharma-śāstra style application of scriptural hierarchy (pramāṇa): when Śruti and Smṛti do not specify, Purāṇic injunctions guide ritual and ethical practice—especially in prescribing prāyaścitta procedures.