Shloka 26

The Account of Kāṣṭhīlā (Kāṣṭhīlā-ākhyāna) within the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

मृगाटनमथाक्षैर्वा क्रीडनं साहसं तथा । छेदनं तृणकाष्ठानां लोष्टानामवमर्द्दनम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

mṛgāṭanamathākṣairvā krīḍanaṃ sāhasaṃ tathā | chedanaṃ tṛṇakāṣṭhānāṃ loṣṭānāmavamarddanam || 26 ||

Translation

狩りで歩き回ること、サイコロ賭博、無謀な遊び、草木を切ること、土の塊を踏みつけること、これらは避けるべき行為である。

Word by Word

• मृग-आटनम्: hunting / roaming for game
• मृग-आटनम्: विषय (enumerated act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + आटन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √अट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (wandering/hunting for animals)

• अथ: and then, also
• अथ: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अनन्तरार्थ (then/and)

• अक्षैः: with dice
• अक्षैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘अक्ष’ = dice

• वा: or
• वा: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात

• क्रीडनम्: playing, gambling
• क्रीडनम्: विषय (enumerated act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीडन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √क्रीड्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक

• साहसम्: rash act, violence
• साहसम्: विषय (enumerated act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), समुच्चयार्थ

• छेदनम्: cutting
• छेदनम्: विषय (enumerated act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छेदन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √छिद्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक

• तृण-काष्ठानाम्: of grass and wood
• तृण-काष्ठानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive; object-specification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक) + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (grass and wood)

• लोष्टानाम्: of clods (of earth)
• लोष्टानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive; object-specification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• अवमर्दनम्: crushing, trampling
• अवमर्दनम्: विषय (enumerated act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवमर्दन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अव + √मृद्/मर्द्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within Uttara-Bhaga’s dharma/tirtha conduct frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It emphasizes inner purity through restraint: avoiding violence-prone roaming, gambling, and careless destruction helps preserve sattva, which supports pilgrimage merit and spiritual steadiness.

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

Bhakti is protected by disciplined habits; abstaining from gambling, rash play, and harm to living spaces reduces distraction and agitation, making the mind fit for japa, kirtana, and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught directly; the verse is primarily a dharmic niyama—practical conduct supporting ritual/pilgrimage observances.