Shloka 71

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

वाक्यज्ञं वाक्यनिरतं मातॄणां तु हिते रतम् । विष्णुधर्मप्रलोप्त्रीयं बहुपापसमन्विता ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

vākyajñaṃ vākyanirataṃ mātṝṇāṃ tu hite ratam | viṣṇudharmapraloptrīyaṃ bahupāpasamanvitā || 70 ||

Translation

ती वाक्यज्ञ व सदैव वचनांत रत, मातृजनांच्या हितासाठी तत्पर होती; तरीही ती विष्णुधर्माचा लोप करणारी व अनेक पापांनी युक्त होती।

Word by Word

• वाक्यज्ञम्: knowing speech/words
• वाक्यज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (वाक्यस्य ज्ञः = वाक्यज्ञः)

• वाक्यनिरतम्: engaged in speech
• वाक्यनिरतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य-निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (वाक्ये निरतः)

• मातॄणाम्: of the mothers
• मातॄणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/समुच्चयार्थ-भेदक (but/indeed)

• हिते: in welfare/for the good
• हिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• रतम्: devoted/attached
• रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विष्णुधर्मप्रलोप्त्रीयम्: destroying Viṣṇu’s dharma
• विष्णुधर्मप्रलोप्त्रीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु-धर्म-प्रलोप्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः धर्मस्य प्रलोप्तृ = destroyer of Viṣṇu's dharma)

• बहुपापसमन्विता: endowed with many sins
• बहुपापसमन्विता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु-पाप-समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (बहुभिः पापैः समन्विता)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) / Purana narrator voice (contextual attribution within Uttara-Bhaga narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It warns that outward virtues—like eloquence and apparent concern for others—do not purify one who actively damages Viṣṇu-dharma; such conduct binds one to pāpa (sin) despite social respectability.

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

Bhakti is safeguarded by aligning speech and action with Vaiṣṇava dharma; using speech to confuse, weaken, or erase devotion to Viṣṇu is portrayed as spiritually destructive.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse indirectly highlights disciplined speech (a Vyākaraṇa/śabda-awareness theme): mastery of words must serve dharma; rhetorical skill without dhārmic intent becomes a cause of adharma.