Shloka 2

Mohinī-prashna

The Question about Mohinī

Devanagari script

अमतेन पुराणानां व्याहृतं यद्द्विजन्मना । क्षुद्रशास्त्रोपदेशेन लोलुपेन वरानने ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

amatena purāṇānāṃ vyāhṛtaṃ yaddvijanmanā | kṣudraśāstropadeśena lolupena varānane || 2 ||

Translation

Wahai wanita berwajah elok, apa yang dihuraikan tentang Purāṇa oleh seorang dwija yang pemahamannya belum matang—rakus dan cenderung kepada ajaran kecil yang rendah—janganlah dianggap sebagai autoriti yang sah.

Word by Word

• अमतेन: by an improper/false opinion
• अमतेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with)

• पुराणानाम्: of the Purāṇas
• पुराणानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural (of)

• व्याहृतम्: was uttered/declared
• व्याहृतम्: कर्म (Object/that which is declared)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-हृ (धातु) > व्याहृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Past passive participle (uttered/declared)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative connector)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Relative pronoun (that which)

• द्विजन्मना: by a twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विजन्मना: कर्ता (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by)

• क्षुद्रशास्त्र-उपदेशेन: by instruction of petty/mean treatises
• क्षुद्रशास्त्र-उपदेशेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुद्रशास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षुद्रशास्त्रस्य उपदेशः)

• लोलुपेन: by a greedy one
• लोलुपेन: कर्ता (Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोलुप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular; adjective qualifying द्विजन्मना

• वरानने: O fair-faced lady
• वरानने: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरानना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative) विभक्ति, एकवचन; Addressing

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka (discernment): spiritual authority is not based on birth or status, but on sound understanding, purity of motive, and fidelity to authentic śāstra.

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

Bhakti is protected by right guidance; the verse warns that greedy or poorly grounded instructors distort Purāṇic teaching, which can misdirect devotion away from its true, śāstra-aligned form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes śāstra-pramāṇa and correct upadeśa (instruction): one should rely on disciplined interpretation (supported by tools like Vyākaraṇa and Mīmāṃsā methods) rather than “kṣudra-śāstra” or superficial doctrines.