Shloka 43

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

दुर्लभं कपिलादानं दुर्लभं नीलमोक्षणम् । कृतं श्राद्धं त्रयोदश्यां दुर्लभं वरवर्णिनि ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

durlabhaṃ kapilādānaṃ durlabhaṃ nīlamokṣaṇam | kṛtaṃ śrāddhaṃ trayodaśyāṃ durlabhaṃ varavarṇini || 43 ||

Translation

കപിലാ പശുവിന്റെ ദാനം ദുർലഭം; നീലമോക്ഷണവിധിയും ദുർലഭം. ഹേ സുന്ദരവർണിനി, ത്രയോദശിയിൽ ചെയ്യുന്ന ശ്രാദ്ധവും ദുർലഭം.

Word by Word

• दुर्लभम्: rare, hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; adjective used predicatively

• कपिला-दानम्: gift of a tawny cow
• कपिला-दानम्: कर्म/विषय (Karma/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कपिलायाः दानम्)

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; adjective used predicatively

• नील-मोक्षणम्: release from the ‘nīla’ (bond/condition)
• नील-मोक्षणम्: कर्म/विषय (Karma/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नीलस्य मोक्षणम्)

• कृतम्: performed, done
• कृतम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकाले (past passive participle)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: कर्म/विषय (Karma/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• त्रयोदश्याम्: on the thirteenth lunar day
• त्रयोदश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative of time (कालाधिकरण)

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; adjective used predicatively

• वर-वर्णिनि: O fair-complexioned lady
• वर-वर्णिनि: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वरः वर्णः यस्याः सा/हे)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada; addressing a lady as 'varavarṇinī' within the narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Śrāddha (Trayodaśī)

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"A sober contemplation of how rarely true dharmic acts are performed, moving from wonder at rarity to quiet exhortation."}

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It highlights three acts regarded as exceptionally meritorious yet difficult to accomplish—kapilā-dāna, the Nīla-mokṣaṇa rite, and performing Śrāddha specifically on Trayodaśī—thereby stressing the rarity and value of disciplined ritual dharma.

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

While not explicitly naming Viṣṇu-bhakti, it supports bhakti-based dharma by emphasizing sincere, timely sacred acts (dāna and śrāddha) that purify the mind and honor divine order and ancestral obligations—foundational supports for steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa (tithi-based timing) are implied: the verse points to precise lunar-day observance (Trayodaśī) and specific ritual categories (dāna, śrāddha, specialized mokṣaṇa rites).