Shloka 77

The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada

Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma

Devanagari script

पतिव्रतानां राजेंद्र न युक्तं समुपोषणम् । एतन्मे गौतमः प्राह स्थिताया मंदराचले ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

pativratānāṃ rājeṃdra na yuktaṃ samupoṣaṇam | etanme gautamaḥ prāha sthitāyā maṃdarācale || 77 ||

Translation

ഹേ രാജേന്ദ്രാ! പതിവ്രതകളായ സ്ത്രീകൾക്ക് പൂർണ്ണ ഉപവാസം യുക്തമല്ല. മന്ദരാചലത്തിൽ ഞാൻ താമസിച്ചിരുന്നപ്പോൾ ഗൗതമൻ എനിക്ക് ഇതേ പറഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• पति-व्रतानाम्: of devoted wives (faithful to husbands)
• पति-व्रतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (पत्यौ व्रतं यस्याः) → पतिव्रता

• राजेन्द्र: O king
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• युक्तम्: proper
• युक्तम्: Kriya-visheshana (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त from √युज्

• समुपोषणम्: complete fasting
• समुपोषणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-उपोषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एतत्: this (statement)
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मे: to me / of me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; enclitic pronoun

• गौतमः: Gautama
• गौतमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राह: said/told
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्थितायाः: of (her) who was staying
• स्थितायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त (past participle) from √स्था; ‘स्थिताया’ (of her who was staying)

• मन्दर-अचले: on Mount Mandara
• मन्दर-अचले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक) + अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (मन्दरः अचलः) → मंदराचल

Speaker

Narrator (Purana dialogue voice) recounting a teaching attributed to Sage Gautama, addressed to a king

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (general upavasa guidance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Mandara (Mandaracala)

FAQs

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

The verse frames vrata (vow) practice under dharma: austerity must be appropriate to one’s role and obligations, and for pativratā women a total fast is presented as generally unsuitable.

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

It implies that devotion is not only severe austerity; bhakti aligned with dharma emphasizes steadiness, service, and regulated observances rather than extremes that could disrupt household duties.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-style niyama) is implied: rules of upavāsa/vrata are context-sensitive, and one should follow authoritative instruction (ācārya-vākya) rather than adopt indiscriminate fasting.