Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

यदि तन्नाचरेद्राजा भोजनं हरिवासरे । क्रियतामपरं देवि मरणादधिकं तव ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

yadi tannācaredrājā bhojanaṃ harivāsare | kriyatāmaparaṃ devi maraṇādadhikaṃ tava || 22 ||

Translation

രാജാവ് ഹരിവാസരത്തിൽ ഭക്ഷണം ഒഴിവാക്കാതിരുന്നാൽ, ഹേ ദേവി, മറ്റൊരു മാർഗം ചെയ്യുക; ഇത് നിനക്കു മരണത്തേക്കാളും അധികം ഭയാനകമാണ്।

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तसूचक (conditional conjunction)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• आचरेत्: should do/observe
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative Singular

• भोजनम्: eating/meal
• भोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular

• हरि-वासरे: on Hari’s day (Ekādaśī/Viṣṇu’s day)
• हरि-वासरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: हरेः वासरः); पुल्लिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण) एकवचन; Locative Singular

• क्रियताम्: let (it) be done
• क्रियताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive): ‘let it be done’

• अपरम्: another (thing)
• अपरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular; विशेषणम् (of implied कर्म)

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचन; Vocative Singular

• मरणात्: than death/from death
• मरणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान) एकवचन; Ablative Singular

• अधिकम्: greater/more
• अधिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular; तुलनाबोधक (comparative sense with ablative)

• तव: for you/of you
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी एकवचन; Genitive Singular

Speaker

Narrative dialogue within a vrata-māhātmya context (speaker not explicitly identifiable from this single verse excerpt; likely a devotee/queen addressing Devī within the Ekādaśī/Harivāsara narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Harivāsara (Ekādaśī-related observance)

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhayanaka","secondary_rasa":"karuna","emotional_journey":"A grave warning escalates: violating Harivāsara by eating is framed as worse than death, urging urgent corrective action."}

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Devī
• Rājā

FAQs

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

It elevates Harivāsara (Ekādaśī) observance as a decisive act of dharma: eating on that day is presented as spiritually disastrous, even “worse than death,” emphasizing the sanctity of Vishnu-oriented vows.

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

Bhakti is shown through disciplined restraint for Hari: refusing food on Harivāsara is not mere austerity but a devotional commitment where honoring Vishnu’s day becomes paramount.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-calendar discipline (connected with Jyotiṣa/pañcāṅga timing) is implied: identifying Harivāsara/Ekādaśī correctly and following its food restrictions as part of vrata-vidhi.