Shloka 14

Kāṣṭhīlā-Ākhyāna: Ratnāvalī’s Return, Co-wife Dharma, and the Phālguna Propitiation

Devanagari script

अपश्यद्भास्कराकारां सस्त्रीकद्विजसंयुताम् । सहजे नैव वेषेण भूषितां भूषणप्रियाम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

apaśyadbhāskarākārāṃ sastrīkadvijasaṃyutām | sahaje naiva veṣeṇa bhūṣitāṃ bhūṣaṇapriyām || 14 ||

Translation

王は、太陽のごとく輝く彼女を見た。彼女は女たちとバラモンたちに伴われていた。自然の姿のまま、衣装で身を偽ることはなかったが、飾りを愛するゆえに、宝飾で荘厳されていた。

Word by Word

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु √पश्/√दृश्, लङ्)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भास्कर: sun
• भास्कर: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘sun’

• आकाराम्: form, appearance
• आकाराम्: Karma (कर्म; object-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘form/appearance’

• भास्कराकाराम्: having the form of the sun, sun-like
• भास्कराकाराम्: Karma (कर्म; object of ‘अपश्यत्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्कर + आकार (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भास्करस्य आकारः यस्याः सा

• स: with
• स: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वाङ्ग ‘स-’ = सहित (with)

• स्त्रीक: women
• स्त्रीक: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘women companions’

• द्विज: Brahmins
• द्विज: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘twice-born’

• संयुताम्: accompanied (by)
• संयुताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-युज् (धातु √युज्, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• सहजे: in a natural (state)
• सहजे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; manner/context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘सहज-स्थितौ/स्वाभाविके’

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• एव: indeed, at all
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वेषेण: by attire, with dress
• वेषेण: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• भूषिताम्: adorned
• भूषिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूष् (धातु √भूष्, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘adorned’

• भूषण: ornament
• भूषण: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘ornament’

• प्रियाम्: fond (of)
• प्रियाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘dear/liking’

• भूषणप्रियाम्: fond of ornaments
• भूषणप्रियाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूषण + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भूषणस्य प्रिया

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya account)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (Brāhmaṇas)
• Strī (women)

FAQs

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

The verse signals auspiciousness through sun-like radiance and righteous company (brāhmaṇas and women), a common Purāṇic marker that a sacred presence or merit-bearing event is being revealed in a tīrtha narrative.

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

Indirectly, it frames devotion as recognizing divinity through signs of auspiciousness—radiance, purity, and dhārmic association—preparing the listener for faith in the tīrtha’s power and the devotional acts performed there.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects dhārmic social markers associated with ritual purity—especially the presence of dvijas (qualified brāhmaṇas) in sacred contexts—supporting proper conduct for tīrtha observances rather than a technical lesson in a specific Vedāṅga.