Shloka 7

Mohinī-prashna

The Question about Mohinī

Devanagari script

अनुकूलं नृणां प्रोक्तं क्षीणानां वरवर्णिनि । मूलं फलं पयस्तोयमुपभोज्यं मुनीश्वरैः ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

anukūlaṃ nṛṇāṃ proktaṃ kṣīṇānāṃ varavarṇini | mūlaṃ phalaṃ payastoyamupabhojyaṃ munīśvaraiḥ || 7 ||

Translation

ഹേ വരവർണിനീ! ക്ഷീണിച്ച മനുഷ്യർക്കു അനുകൂലമെന്നു പ്രസ്താവിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു—കിഴങ്ങുകൾ, ഫലങ്ങൾ, പാൽ, ജലം; ഇവ മുനീശ്വരന്മാർക്കും ഉപഭോജ്യമാണ്.

Word by Word

• अनुकूलम्: favourable, suitable
• अनुकूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; adjective used predicatively

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: said, declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with अनुकूलम्

• क्षीणानाम्: of the weakened/emaciated
• क्षीणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीण (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from क्षि/क्षी धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; qualifying नृणाम्

• वरवर्णिनि: O fair-complexioned (lady)
• वरवर्णिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरवर्णिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; compound वर + वर्णिनी

• मूलम्: root (edible root)
• मूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• फलम्: fruit
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; first member of coordination with तोयम्

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपभोज्यम्: fit to be consumed
• उपभोज्यम्: Vidhi/Prayojya (विधेय/प्रयोज्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-भुज् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तरि/कर्मणि साधारण-योग्यतावाचक कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be consumed/fit to be enjoyed’

• मुनीश्वरैः: by the lords among sages
• मुनीश्वरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; compound मुनि + ईश्वर

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada; addressing a woman as varavarṇinī)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Munis

FAQs

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

It defines a sāttvika, non-harmful diet—roots, fruits, milk, and water—as spiritually appropriate, especially during austerities and pilgrimage contexts, even for accomplished sages.

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

By recommending simplicity and restraint in food, it supports bhakti through bodily steadiness and purity, making the mind fit for remembrance, worship, and tīrtha observances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Kalpa (ritual discipline) by stating allowable consumables during vrata/niyama, especially when the practitioner is kṣīṇa (weakened), indicating practical rule-based dharma.