Shloka 47

Rukmāṅgada–Vāmadeva Saṃvāda: Ahimsa, Hunting, and the Fruit of Dvādaśī-Bhakti

Devanagari script

अभीष्टं हि महीपाल यो ददाति महीतले । पटहं वासरे विष्णोः प्रजाभोजनवारणम् ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

abhīṣṭaṃ hi mahīpāla yo dadāti mahītale | paṭahaṃ vāsare viṣṇoḥ prajābhojanavāraṇam || 47 ||

Translation

王よ、地上で人々の望むものを施す者は、ヴィシュヌの聖日に太鼓で布告し、民への饗応や施食の宴を禁ずるべきである。

Word by Word

• अभीष्टम्: the desired (boon/thing)
• अभीष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; substantive ‘desired thing’

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/causal nuance

• महीपाल: O king
• महीपाल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन; ‘मही + पाल’ षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (earth’s protector)

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

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• महीतले: on the earth’s surface
• महीतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; ‘मही + तल’ षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• पटहम्: a drum
• पटहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पटह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• वासरे: on the day
• वासरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• प्रजाभोजनवारणम्: prohibition of feeding the subjects
• प्रजाभोजनवारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक) + वारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—‘प्रजानां भोजनस्य वारणम्’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, multi-member)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructive narration addressed to a king)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (Viṣṇoḥ vāsara—Viṣṇu’s sacred day is referenced but not named as Ekādaśī etc.)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames Viṣṇu-vrata discipline as a public dharmic duty: the king supports devotion not only by giving charity but also by upholding restraint and sacred-day observance through official proclamation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as regulated worship—honoring Viṣṇu’s day with niyama (restraint). The verse implies that devotion is strengthened when society collectively observes sacred discipline rather than treating the day as ordinary feasting.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights practical ritual governance (kalpa-style procedural dharma): announcing vrata-related prohibitions by public drumbeat (paṭaha) so communal observances are known and followed.