Shloka 11

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

अधर्मान्मानवोऽवश्यं स्वर्गभ्रष्टो न संशयः । प्राणानादाय पुत्रं वा सर्वस्वं वा महीपते ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

adharmānmānavo'vaśyaṃ svargabhraṣṭo na saṃśayaḥ | prāṇānādāya putraṃ vā sarvasvaṃ vā mahīpate || 11 ||

Translation

അധർമം മൂലം മനുഷ്യൻ നിർബന്ധമായും സ്വർഗ്ഗത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പതിക്കും—സംശയമില്ല; ജീവൻ എടുത്താലും, പുത്രനെ എടുത്താലും, സർവ്വസ്വം എടുത്താലും, ഹേ മഹീപതേ!

Word by Word

• अधर्मात्: from unrighteousness; due to adharma
• अधर्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (cause/source)

• मानवः: a man; human
• मानवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवश्यम्: certainly
• अवश्यम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवश्यम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — certainly/necessarily

• स्वर्गभ्रष्टः: fallen from heaven
• स्वर्गभ्रष्टः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रष्ट (भ्रंश् धातु + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वर्गात् भ्रष्टः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मानवः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• न: no; not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—‘there is doubt’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राणान्: lives; vital breaths
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘ādāya’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आदाय: having taken away
• आदाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having taken away’

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• सर्वस्वम्: everything; all possessions
• सर्वस्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वं स्वम्—one’s all); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• महीपते: O lord of the earth (king)
• महीपते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपतिः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मही + पति); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instruction to a kingly listener, within Narada Purana’s teaching frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It warns that adharma inevitably destroys one’s punya (merit) and causes a fall from svarga; grave harms like killing, abducting a son, or plundering wealth lead to spiritual downfall and suffering.

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

By highlighting the inevitability of karmic consequences from adharma, it indirectly urges a dharmic life that supports sattva and devotion; stable dharma is presented in the Purana as the ground on which Vishnu-bhakti can flourish.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily teaches Dharma and Karma rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it aligns with Dharmashastra-style conduct rules (avoiding himsa, theft, and grievous injury to others) that preserve punya and social order.