Shloka 18
Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं भर्ता मे चारुलोचने । राक्षस्याः कामतप्तायाः कुमार्याः सन्निधौ शुभे ॥ १८ ॥
etacchrutvā tu vacanaṃ bhartā me cārulocane | rākṣasyāḥ kāmataptāyāḥ kumāryāḥ sannidhau śubhe || 18 ||
これらの言葉を聞いて、私の夫は――おお、美しい瞳を持つ者よ――その乙女と、欲望に焼かれた羅刹女（ラークシャシー）の面前で語った。
Narrator (a female character within the Adhyaya’s story, speaking to 'cārulocane')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shringara
FAQs
The verse frames a moral turning point in a narrative: actions begin after “hearing the words,” highlighting how speech, intention, and desire (kāma) can drive consequential choices—often used in Purāṇic storytelling to contrast dharma with passion.
Bhakti is not explicit in this line; instead, it implicitly shows the opposite force—kāma-tāpa (burning desire). In the Narada Purana’s broader teaching style, such narrative cues prepare the reader to value self-restraint and God-centered devotion over impulse.
No Vedāṅga topic (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is directly taught in this verse; it is primarily narrative Sanskrit emphasizing characterization through compounds like kāma-taptāyāḥ.