Shloka 25
Kāṣṭhīlā-Ākhyāna: Ratnāvalī’s Return, Co-wife Dharma, and the Phālguna Propitiation
गृहीत्वा वास्तुकं वित्तं पृष्ठमारोप्य मामपि । समायातात्र भूपाल मामत्तुं तव मंदिरम् ॥ २५ ॥
gṛhītvā vāstukaṃ vittaṃ pṛṣṭhamāropya māmapi | samāyātātra bhūpāla māmattuṃ tava maṃdiram || 25 ||
“Engkau mengambil harta yang diperuntukkan bagi membina kediaman, bahkan mengangkat aku ke atas belakangmu; lalu engkau datang ke sini, wahai Raja, ke rumahmu sendiri—dengan niat untuk menelan aku.”
Narrator (a victim/accuser addressing the king within the Adhyaya 30 story-frame); overall discourse traditionally relayed by Sage Narada in Uttara-Bhaga contexts
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It frames adharma as self-incriminating: the king’s act—seizing building-wealth and coming to “devour” the speaker—symbolizes predatory greed that violates dharma and invites karmic consequence, a recurring warning within Uttara-Bhaga mahatmya narratives.
By contrast: bhakti in the Narada Purana is aligned with protection, compassion, and righteous conduct; the verse depicts the opposite (harm and exploitation), implying that true Vishnu-bhakti cannot coexist with cruelty or theft.
No direct Vedanga instruction is given; however, the term “vāstuka” touches the domain of vastu/architectural propriety (often treated in allied śāstric traditions), reminding that resources meant for dharmic construction should not be diverted for adharma.