Shloka 14

The Account of Kāṣṭhīlā (Kāṣṭhīlā-ākhyāna) within the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

अस्मज्जीवितसंयुक्तं राज्यं वरय सुव्रते । सप्तद्वीपसमेतं हि ससरिद्वनपर्वतम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

asmajjīvitasaṃyuktaṃ rājyaṃ varaya suvrate | saptadvīpasametaṃ hi sasaridvanaparvatam || 14 ||

Translation

ഹേ സുവ്രതേ, നമ്മുടെ ജീവൻതന്നോടു ബന്ധിതമായ രാജ്യം തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുക—സപ്തദ്വീപങ്ങളോടുകൂടി, നദി-വനം-പർവതങ്ങളോടുകൂടി॥१४॥

Word by Word

• अस्मत्-जीवित-संयुक्तम्: bound up with my life
• अस्मत्-जीवित-संयुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम) + जीवित (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (सम्-युज् + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘राज्यम्’); समासः—तत्पुरुष (अस्मत्-जीवितेन संयुक्तम् = connected with my life)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• वरय: choose/select
• वरय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुव्रते: O woman of good vows
• सुव्रते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुव्रता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; ‘सु’ उपसर्गपूर्वक विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक

• सप्त-द्वीप-समेतम्: together with the seven continents
• सप्त-द्वीप-समेतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक) + समेत (सम्-इ + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘राज्यम्’); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सप्तद्वीपैः समेतम् = accompanied by seven islands/continents)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/causal nuance

• स-सरित्-वन-पर्वतम्: with rivers, forests, and mountains
• स-सरित्-वन-पर्वतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (सह-अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + सरित् (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘राज्यम्’); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सरिद्वनपर्वतैः सह = with rivers, forests, and mountains)

Speaker

A king (royal speaker addressing a virtuous woman while offering a boon)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It portrays the vastness of worldly sovereignty—“seven dvīpas with rivers, forests, and mountains”—as a boon, implicitly contrasting temporal power with higher religious aims that the Purana ultimately prioritizes.

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

Bhakti is not stated directly here; instead, the verse sets a narrative backdrop where even the greatest earthly gifts can be offered, preparing the listener for the Purana’s recurring message that devotion and dharma outweigh material dominion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Kalpa, Jyotiṣa, etc.) instruction appears in this line; it mainly uses Purāṇic cosmography (saptadvīpa) as a conventional description of universal kingship.