Shloka 16

Dialogue of Father and Son (Pitṛputra-saṃvāda) — Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

तथोत्युक्तैस्तुतैः सर्वैर्भूमिपालैर्नृपात्मजः । जगाम संमुखं पद्भ्यां क्रोशमात्रं पितुस्तदा ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

tathotyuktaistutaiḥ sarvairbhūmipālairnṛpātmajaḥ | jagāma saṃmukhaṃ padbhyāṃ krośamātraṃ pitustadā || 16 ||

Translation

ଏଭଳି ସମସ୍ତ ଭୂମିପାଳଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସମ୍ବୋଧିତ ଓ ସ୍ତୁତ ହୋଇ, ରାଜପୁତ୍ର ତେବେ ପିତାଙ୍କୁ ମୁହାଁମୁହିଁ ହେବାକୁ ପାଦେ ପାଦେ ପ୍ରାୟ ଏକ କ୍ରୋଶ ଆଗକୁ ଗଲା।

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb)

• उत्-उक्तैः: by (words) spoken
• उत्-उक्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-√वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; ‘having been spoken/said’

• स्तुतैः: by praises
• स्तुतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्तु (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘praised’

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• भूमिपालैः: by kings (protectors of the earth)
• भूमिपालैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भूमेः पालः’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• नृपात्मजः: the king’s son
• नृपात्मजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘नृपस्य आत्मजः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संमुखम्: towards the front / facing
• संमुखम्: Desha/Adhikarana (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial accusative usage)

• पद्भ्याम्: with (his) two feet
• पद्भ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचन (dual)

• क्रोशमात्रम्: a distance of one krośa only
• क्रोशमात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोश + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्राय: ‘क्रोश-परिमाणम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक

• पितुः: of (his) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time/कालवाचक)

Speaker

Suta (narrator)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• bhūmipāla (kings)
• nṛpātmaja (prince)
• pitu (father)

FAQs

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

It highlights humility and proper conduct: even after receiving praise from many rulers, the prince personally goes on foot to meet his father, modeling disciplined respect and dharmic restraint.

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

Though not a direct bhakti teaching, it supports bhakti-culture through humility (vinaya) and reverence toward elders—qualities repeatedly treated as foundations for receiving sacred instruction and engaging in pilgrimage (tirtha) practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical traditional detail appears through the distance unit “krośa,” reflecting conventional measurement used in pilgrimage descriptions and route-planning in tirtha-mahātmyas (rather than a specific Vedanga like Vyakarana or Jyotisha).