Shloka 28

Honoring the Mother (Mātṛpūjanam): Consent, Equity, and Dana to Restore Household Dharma

Devanagari script

क्रीडार्थमागता बाला मन्दराचलमन्दिरात् । तत्पुत्रवचनं श्रुत्वा वेपमाना हि मातरः ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

krīḍārthamāgatā bālā mandarācalamandirāt | tatputravacanaṃ śrutvā vepamānā hi mātaraḥ || 28 ||

Translation

その少女はマンダラ山の寺院から遊びに出てきていた。息子の言葉を聞いて、母たちは実に震え始めた。

Word by Word

• krīḍā-artham: for play
• krīḍā-artham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); purpose-accusative (प्रयोजनार्थ)

• āgatā: having come
• āgatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgata (कृदन्त; √gam ‘to go/come’, past participle)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bālā: the girl
• bālā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mandara-acala-mandirāt: from the palace/temple on Mandara mountain
• mandara-acala-mandirāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandara (प्रातिपदिक) + acala (प्रातिपदिक) + mandira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); source (अपादान)

• tat-putra-vacanam: the words of that son
• tat-putra-vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक) + vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा; अव्ययीभाव-स्वरूप)

• vepamānāḥ: trembling
• vepamānāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vepamāna (कृदन्त; √vep ‘to tremble’, present participle शतृ)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with mātaraḥ

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (अव्यय; emphasis/causal nuance)

• mātaraḥ: mothers
• mātaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator within Uttara-Bhāga; dialogue tradition often framed via Sūta—exact speaker not explicit in this single verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Mandarācala (Mount Mandara)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes how events connected with a sacred temple setting (Mandarācala-mandira) can suddenly turn serious, provoking fear and moral alertness—typical of Tīrtha-Māhātmya narratives that motivate dharma and reverence for holy places.

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

Indirectly: the scene is anchored at a temple on a sacred mountain, showing life revolving around a shrine; the emotional tremor of the mothers signals the gravity of speech and conduct in a holy environment—an atmosphere that supports disciplined devotion and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it functions as narrative continuity in a Tīrtha-Māhātmya episode rather than a technical instruction.