Shloka 21

Mohinī’s Speech

Mohinyāḥ Bhāṣaṇam

Devanagari script

वरचंदनयुक्तेन हस्तेन वरवर्णिनी । ततः प्रहस्य शनकैः प्राह संध्यावलीं नृप ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

varacaṃdanayuktena hastena varavarṇinī | tataḥ prahasya śanakaiḥ prāha saṃdhyāvalīṃ nṛpa || 21 ||

Translation

ഹേ നൃപാ! ഉത്തമ ചന്ദനം ലേപിച്ച കൈയുള്ള ആ വരവർണിനി പിന്നെ പുഞ്ചിരിച്ച്, പതുക്കെ സന്ധ്യാവലിയോട് സംസാരിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• वरचन्दनयुक्तेन: with (a hand) anointed/associated with excellent sandalwood
• वरचन्दनयुक्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर + चन्दन + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; युक्त = PPP from √युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्; क्त (PPP) ‘युक्त’ = endowed/connected; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वरेण चन्दनेन युक्तः)

• हस्तेन: with the hand
• हस्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• वरवर्णिनी: the fair/beautiful-complexioned lady
• वरवर्णिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर + वर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (वरः वर्णः यस्याः)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अपादान/क्रमसूचक-अव्ययम् (then/from there)

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• प्रहस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund) ‘having laughed’

• शनकैः: gently/slowly
• शनकैः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनकैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: gently/slowly)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√अह्/√ब्रू (धातु; ‘प्राह’ = perfect of √अह् ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• संध्यावलीम्: to Sandhyāvalī (name)
• संध्यावलीम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्यावली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्; संबोधन-प्रयोजनम् (object of address)

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, संबोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Suta (narrator addressing the king)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Characters & Entities

• Sandhyāvalī

FAQs

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

It highlights auspicious devotional decorum—using candana (sandal paste) and gentle speech—signaling purity, goodwill, and a sattvic mood within a sacred narrative.

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

Through subtle cues: fragrant sandal paste and a soft, smiling address reflect the bhakti ethos of pleasing conduct (ācāra) and reverent, non-harsh speech in holy settings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it reflects ritual practice (kalpa-oriented ācāra): applying candana as an auspicious, purity-marking substance used in pūjā and vrata observances, though no technical Vedanga instruction is explicitly stated.