Shloka 140

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

Devanagari script

गमनायोद्यतः कन्यां सा भीता वाक्यमब्रवीत् । कुमारीसेवने रक्षो महापापं विधीयते ॥ १४० ॥

Transliteration

gamanāyodyataḥ kanyāṃ sā bhītā vākyamabravīt | kumārīsevane rakṣo mahāpāpaṃ vidhīyate || 140 ||

Translation

അവൻ കന്യയിലേക്കു പോകാൻ ഒരുങ്ങുമ്പോൾ അവൾ ഭയത്തോടെ പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ രാക്ഷസാ! കുമാരിയെ ലംഘിക്കുന്നത് മഹാപാപമാണ്.”

Word by Word

• गमनाय: for going
• गमनाय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे ‘for going’

• उद्यतः: ready/intending
• उद्यतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-यत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत्/क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle used adjectivally: ready/intent), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कन्याम्: the maiden
• कन्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भीता: frightened
• भीता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle: frightened), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सा इति विशेषणम्

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कुमारीसेवने: in (the act of) violating a maiden
• कुमारीसेवने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारी-सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कुमार्याः सेवनम् = in the act of serving/violating a maiden)

• रक्षः: O demon
• रक्षः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; राक्षस-सम्बोधनम्

• महापापम्: a great sin
• महापापम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् पापम् = great sin)

• विधीयते: is incurred/comes to be
• विधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्, कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is incurred/is ordained)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrative voice; dialogue attributed to the frightened maiden)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhayanaka","secondary_rasa":"karuna","emotional_journey":"Fear peaks as the rākṣasa advances; the maiden’s plea introduces moral gravity through the warning of great sin."}

Characters & Entities

• Rakshasa
• Kumari (virgin maiden)

FAQs

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

It frames protection of the innocent and restraint of desire as core dharma: harming a maiden is explicitly declared mahāpāpa, reinforcing that spiritual progress requires ethical self-control.

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

Bhakti in the Purāṇic sense is inseparable from dharmic conduct; devotion to Viṣṇu is supported by samyama (sense-restraint) and avoidance of grave sins that obstruct purity of mind and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa/usage nuance is implicit: the term “kumārī-sevana” is an ethical euphemism for sexual violation, showing how precise wording conveys dharmic prohibitions in narrative instruction.