Shloka 14

Mohinī-prashna

The Question about Mohinī

Devanagari script

वचो निशम्य मोहिन्या राजा वेदविदां वरः । उवाच मानसे क्रुद्धः प्रहसन्निव भूपते ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

vaco niśamya mohinyā rājā vedavidāṃ varaḥ | uvāca mānase kruddhaḥ prahasanniva bhūpate || 14 ||

Translation

ໂອ ພຣະມະຫາກະສັດ, ເມື່ອໄດ້ຟັງຖ້ອຍຄຳຂອງນາງຜູ້ລໍ້ລວງ ກະສັດຜູ້ເປັນເລີດໃນບັນດາຜູ້ຮູ້ເວດາ ໄດ້ກ່າວດ້ວຍໃຈໂກດ ແຕ່ຄືກັບຍິ້ມຢູ່.

Word by Word

• vacaḥ: speech, words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/gerund)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-śam (धातु) → niśamya (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्); 'having heard'

• mohinyā: by Mohinī
• mohinyā: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mohinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vedavidām: of the knowers of the Veda
• vedavidām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda-vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद/कर्मधारय-like: 'Veda-knower'); Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• varaḥ: the best
• varaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mānase: in (his) mind
• mānase: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kruddhaḥ: angry
• kruddhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krudh (धातु) → kruddha (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past participle used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prahasan: laughing
• prahasan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-has (धातु) → prahasan (कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमा-निपात)

• bhūpate: O king
• bhūpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the king’s response within the dialogue

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī (enchantress)
• Rājā (the king)

FAQs

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

It highlights discernment under delusion: even a Veda-knowing ruler can feel inner agitation, yet dharmic restraint is shown by controlled outward conduct.

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

Indirectly, it points to the bhakti virtue of self-mastery—steady speech and composure despite provocation—supporting purity of mind that sustains devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the identity of the king as a “vedavidāṃ varaḥ” (expert in Veda), implying training in disciplines like Vyākaraṇa and Mīmāṃsā that cultivate clarity and measured speech, though no specific Vedāṅga technique is detailed.