Shloka 13

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

मंड वा गतोद्वा यथा सरः । मंथानं नवनीते वा उद्धृते धरणीपते ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

maṃḍa vā gatodvā yathā saraḥ | maṃthānaṃ navanīte vā uddhṛte dharaṇīpate || 13 ||

Translation

Wahai Penguasa bumi, sebagaimana keladak di tasik disingkirkan, atau seperti kayu pengacau dikeluarkan setelah mentega diperoleh—demikian juga hendaklah dilepaskan apa yang telah selesai fungsinya.

Word by Word

• maṃḍam: weak/feeble
• maṃḍam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṃḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative, Singular; used adverbially ‘slowly/feebly’ or as predicate ‘weak’ (reading uncertain due to corrupt pāda)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa-dyotaka (विकल्प-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• gata-udvāḥ: with something gone/removed (corrupt reading)
• gata-udvāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त, क्त; गम् धातु) + udvā (प्रातिपदिक; uncertain)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; text appears corrupt (gatodvā). Interpreted as a tatpuruṣa ‘gone/removed …’ modifying saraḥ contextually

• yathā: as/just as
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative indeclinable

• saraḥ: a lake/pond
• saraḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• maṃthānam: churning-stick
• maṃthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• navanīte: in butter
• navanīte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: navanīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa-dyotaka (विकल्प-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• uddhṛte: when taken out/removed
• uddhṛte: Kāla/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-√hṛ (धातु) → uddhṛta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with navanīte (locative absolute-like)

• dharaṇīpate: O lord of the earth (king)
• dharaṇīpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇī-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dharaṇyāḥ patiḥ)

Speaker

Sage Narada (addressing a king as 'dharaṇīpati')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches purposeful renunciation: once purification or the intended spiritual result is obtained, one should let go of the auxiliary impurity or instrument—like scum removed from water or a churner removed after butter is obtained.

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

In bhakti, supports and practices are honored as means to reach the Lord; after the heart yields the ‘butter’ of pure devotion, the devotee drops ego, residue, and needless attachment, remaining steady in simple God-centeredness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It indirectly reflects the Vedic method of using upāyas (means) skillfully—like a ritual tool used correctly and then set aside—an applied principle aligned with kalpa (ritual procedure) and dharma-śāstra pragmatism.