Shloka 30

Dharmāṅgada’s Conquest of the Directions

Devanagari script

यथा दारुमयी योषा चेष्टते कुहकेच्छया । तथाहि पितृवीर्येण पुत्रास्तेजोबलान्विताः ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

yathā dārumayī yoṣā ceṣṭate kuhakecchayā | tathāhi pitṛvīryeṇa putrāstejobalānvitāḥ || 30 ||

Translation

木で作られた女形（おんながた）が手品師の意のままに動くように、まさにそのとおり、光輝と力を備えた子らも、父の種子の威力によって働くのである。

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamana (उपमान/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (comparative adverb: as/just as)

• दारु-मयी: made of wood
• दारु-मयी: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारु (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘मय’ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (made of wood); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of योषा

• योषा: a woman (figure)
• योषा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चेष्टते: moves, acts
• चेष्टते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कुहक-इच्छया: by the will of a magician
• कुहक-इच्छया: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहक (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (by the desire/will of a conjurer); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Upamana (उपमान/Correlative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तदनुरूपार्थक-अव्यय (so/thus)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (for/indeed)

• पितृ-वीर्येण: by the father’s vigor
• पितृ-वीर्येण: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (by the father’s potency/virility); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तेजः-बल-अन्विताः: endowed with energy and strength
• तेजः-बल-अन्विताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (endowed with splendor and strength); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण of पुत्राः; ‘अन्वित’ = PPP from अन्वि/अनु + इ (to be connected/endowed) in adjectival sense

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Uttara-Bhaga discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_journey":"Employs a striking magical metaphor (wooden puppet moved by a conjurer) to reframe sons’ power as derivative of paternal potency, ending in a sobering, depersonalizing insight."}

FAQs

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

It uses a simile to highlight dependent agency: as an inert wooden figure appears to act only through an external controller, progeny are said to manifest vigor through the causal potency of the father—pointing to how visible effects rely on underlying causes.

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

Indirectly, it supports a bhakti worldview by emphasizing dependence: just as effects rely on causes, the soul’s capacities and outcomes are ultimately dependent, encouraging humility and reliance on the higher source rather than ego-driven doership.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the verse instead employs a nyāya-style analogy (illustrative reasoning) common in śāstric exposition to clarify causality and agency.