Shloka 21

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

लुप्तेऽपि वाक्ये भविता नृपेश पापं समं ब्रह्मवधेन घोरम् । तंतासि लोके शमनस्य भूप यशःप्रणाशो भविता धरायाम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

lupte'pi vākye bhavitā nṛpeśa pāpaṃ samaṃ brahmavadhena ghoram | taṃtāsi loke śamanasya bhūpa yaśaḥpraṇāśo bhavitā dharāyām || 21 ||

Translation

ഹേ നൃപേശ്വരാ, ഉച്ചരിച്ച വാക്ക് മറഞ്ഞാലും നിഷേധിച്ചാലും ബ്രഹ്മഹത്യയ്‌ക്ക് തുല്യമായ ഭയങ്കര പാപം ഉദിക്കും. ഹേ രാജാവേ, ലോകത്തിൽ യമദണ്ഡത്തിന് വിധേയനാകും; ഭൂമിയിൽ നിന്റെ യശസ് നശിക്കും.

Word by Word

• lupte: when (it is) omitted / lost
• lupte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lupta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from lup/luṇṭ)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (contextually with vākye: नपुंसक), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• api: even if
• api: Discourse marker (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निपात (particle; concessive 'even if')

• vākye: in the statement / command
• vākye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• bhavitā: will be
• bhavitā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु) + bhavitṛ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: लकारः—लृट् (Simple Future), पुरुषः—प्रथम (3rd), वचनम्—एकवचन, पदम्—परस्मैपदम्

• nṛpa-īśa: O lord of kings
• nṛpa-īśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'lord of kings'), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• pāpam: sin
• pāpam: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate noun
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• samam: equal (to)
• samam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; pāpam इति विशेषणम्

• brahma-vadhena: with (the sin of) Brahmin-slaying
• brahma-vadhena: Upamāna/Comparison instrument (उपमान/तुलना-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'killing of a Brahmin'), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; pāpam इति विशेषणम्

• tam: him / that one
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• tāsi: you will incur / you will undergo
• tāsi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tan (धातु) / tā (धातु) (uncertain reading; likely future/2nd sg)
• Form: पाठ-समस्या (textual uncertainty): 'tāsi' appears as 2nd person singular future-like form; intended sense 'you will attain/undergo'.

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• śamanasya: of Yama (the punisher)
• śamanasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śamana (प्रातिपदिक; Yama/Death)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• bhūpa: O king
• bhūpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• yaśaḥ-praṇāśaḥ: loss of fame
• yaśaḥ-praṇāśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक) + praṇāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'destruction of fame'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• bhavitā: will be
• bhavitā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लकारः—लृट् (Simple Future), पुरुषः—प्रथम (3rd), वचनम्—एकवचन, पदम्—परस्मैपदम्

• dharāyām: on the earth
• dharāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching/admonishing a king, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Yama (Shamana)

FAQs

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

The verse warns that moral responsibility is not erased by concealment or denial; grave adharma—especially connected with falsehood or betrayal of a solemn word—ripens into heavy karmic consequence, likened to brahma-hatya, bringing both otherworldly punishment and worldly disgrace.

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

By stressing truth and integrity as essential dharmic foundations, it supports Bhakti indirectly: devotion to Vishnu is sustained by satya (truthfulness) and ethical conduct; hypocrisy and broken vows destroy spiritual credibility and invite karmic suffering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It chiefly reflects Dharmashastra-style application of ethical law (not a technical Vedanga lesson), emphasizing the power of vāk (speech) and accountability for vows/utterances—principles aligned with disciplined use of language central to Vyakarana and the dharmic use of mantra and promise.