Mohinī-prashna
The Question about Mohinī
संस्रातोऽपि सुदांतोऽपि न गतिं प्राप्नुयादिति । पितरं को न वंदेत मातरं को न पूजयेत् ॥ २५ ॥
saṃsrāto'pi sudāṃto'pi na gatiṃ prāpnuyāditi | pitaraṃ ko na vaṃdeta mātaraṃ ko na pūjayet || 25 ||
たとえよく沐浴し、よく自制していても、真の到達処を得られぬという。されば、誰が父に礼拝せず、誰が母を敬わぬであろうか。
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
The verse teaches that external purity (bathing) and even personal discipline are insufficient if one neglects foundational dharma—reverence and service to one’s parents—without which higher spiritual attainment (gati) is obstructed.
It implies that bhakti is not merely ritual or austerity; it must be grounded in humility and gratitude expressed through honoring father and mother, which purifies the heart and supports genuine devotion.
While no single Vedanga is explicitly taught, the verse emphasizes sadachara (right conduct) as the practical application of dharma that underlies Vedic ritual life—purity rules and discipline must be joined with ethical duty toward parents.