Shloka 55

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

सत्यं संरक्ष यत्नेन कुरुष्व वचनं मम । एवं ब्रुवाणां तां राजन्मोहिनीं तनुमध्यमाम् ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

satyaṃ saṃrakṣa yatnena kuruṣva vacanaṃ mama | evaṃ bruvāṇāṃ tāṃ rājanmohinīṃ tanumadhyamām || 55 ||

Translation

സത്യത്തെ പരിശ്രമത്തോടെ സംരക്ഷിക്ക; എന്റെ വചനം നടപ്പാക്കുക. ഹേ രാജൻ, ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞ ആ മോഹിനി, സുന്ദരമായ ഇടയുള്ളവൾ (ആയിരുന്നു).

Word by Word

• satyam: truth
• satyam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative singular)

• saṃrakṣa: protect
• saṃrakṣa: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• yatnena: with effort
• yatnena: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental singular)

• kuruṣva: do / perform
• kuruṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• vacanam: word/command
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative singular)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• bruvāṇām: speaking
• bruvāṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘tām’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative singular); ‘speaking’

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative singular)

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन (Vocative singular)

• mohinīm: the enchantress (Mohinī)
• mohinīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘tām’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mohinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative singular); नाम/विशेषणरूपेण

• tanu-madhyamām: slender-waisted
• tanu-madhyamām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘tām’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tanu (प्रातिपदिक) + madhyamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: तनुः मध्यमा यस्याः/या; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative singular)

Speaker

Mohinī (the enchantress) addressing the King

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Wonder and suspense arise from the enchantress’s presence, then settle into a sober insistence on protecting truth."}

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī
• King

FAQs

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

It elevates satya (truthfulness) as a core dharma: truth must be consciously protected and lived through obedient action, even when circumstances are influenced by māyā (delusion).

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

By insisting on truth and faithful adherence to righteous instruction, it supports the bhakti foundation of integrity—devotion is stabilized when one’s speech and conduct remain aligned with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is nīti-dharma: disciplined speech (satya) and compliance with rightful injunction (vacana).