Shloka 6

Rukmāṅgada–Vāmadeva Saṃvāda: Ahimsa, Hunting, and the Fruit of Dvādaśī-Bhakti

Devanagari script

गृहे वापि हृषीकेशं पूजयस्व महीपते । निर्दोषमृगयूथानां न युक्तं सूदनं तव ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

gṛhe vāpi hṛṣīkeśaṃ pūjayasva mahīpate | nirdoṣamṛgayūthānāṃ na yuktaṃ sūdanaṃ tava || 6 ||

Translation

ಹೇ ಮಹೀಪತೇ, ನಿನ್ನ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಹೃಷೀಕೇಶ (ವಿಷ್ಣು)ನನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸು. ನಿರ್ದೋಷ ಮೃಗಗಳ ಗುಂಪುಗಳನ್ನು ಕೊಲ್ಲುವುದು ನಿನಗೆ ಯುಕ್ತವಲ್ಲ।

Word by Word

• gṛhe: in the house
• gṛhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• vā: or/even
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive: or/even)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• hṛṣīkeśam: Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu)
• hṛṣīkeśam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛṣīkeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pūjayasva: worship
• pūjayasva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• mahīpate: O king
• mahīpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• nirdoṣa-mṛga-yūthānām: of blameless herds of animals
• nirdoṣa-mṛga-yūthānām: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirdoṣa + mṛga + yūtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—निर्दोषाणां मृगयूथानाम् (of blameless herds of deer/animals)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• yuktam: proper/appropriate
• yuktam: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj युज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘proper/fit’ used predicatively

• sūdanam: killing/slaughter
• sūdanam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tava: for you/of you
• tava: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Narada (instructing a king within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhakti","secondary_rasa":"karuna","emotional_journey":"Begins with intimate accessibility of home-worship, then turns into compassionate protection of innocent animals, ending in a firm ethical injunction against slaughter."}

Characters & Entities

• Hrsikesa
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere worship of Viṣṇu (Hṛṣīkeśa) can be performed at home and that true dharma aligns with compassion—avoiding needless harm to innocent beings.

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

Bhakti is shown as accessible and practical: the king is urged to do simple, consistent pūjā to Viṣṇu, rather than pursuing violent acts that contradict purity of heart.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily highlights ritual practice (pūjā/ācāra) and dharmic ethics (ahiṃsā) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; it implies correct conduct as the foundation for effective worship.