Shloka 14

The Description of Mohinī’s Love Episode

Devanagari script

आज्ञाविधेयांस्तु पितुर्नियोज्य दासांश्च दासीश्च हिरण्यकंठीः । मत्स्यध्वजार्त्तस्य सुखाय पुत्रस्ततो महीरक्षणमाचचार ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

ājñāvidheyāṃstu piturniyojya dāsāṃśca dāsīśca hiraṇyakaṃṭhīḥ | matsyadhvajārttasya sukhāya putrastato mahīrakṣaṇamācacāra || 14 ||

Translation

ପିତାଙ୍କ ଆଜ୍ଞାକୁ ମାନୁଥିବା ଦାସ ଓ ଦାସୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଅଳଙ୍କାରରେ ଭୂଷିତ କରି ନିଯୁକ୍ତ କରି—ଆର୍ତ୍ତ ମତ୍ସ୍ୟଧ୍ୱଜଙ୍କ ସୁଖ ପାଇଁ—ପୁତ୍ର ପରେ ପୃଥିବୀର ରକ୍ଷା କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଆରମ୍ଭ କଲା।

Word by Word

• ājñā-vidheyān: obedient to orders
• ājñā-vidheyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक) + vidheya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आज्ञायाः विधेयाः = आज्ञापालकाः/आज्ञावशाः)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपातः

• pituḥ: of (his) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• niyojya: having appointed/assigned
• niyojya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√yuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); ‘नियोज्य’ = नियुक्त्वा/नियुज्य

• dāsān: male servants
• dāsān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• dāsīḥ: female servants
• dāsīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāsī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• hiraṇya-kaṇṭhīḥ: wearing golden neck-ornaments
• hiraṇya-kaṇṭhīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hiraṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṇṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हिरण्यकण्ठः = हिरण्यकण्ठी, ‘gold-necked/with golden necklaces’)

• matsya-dhvaja-ārttasya: of the one distressed by the fish-bannered (enemy)
• matsya-dhvaja-ārttasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matsya (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (मत्स्यध्वजेन आर्तः/पीडितः)

• sukhāya: for (his) comfort
• sukhāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• putraḥ: the son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantara (काल/अनन्तर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोगः (ततः = ततः परम्/तस्मात्)

• mahī-rakṣaṇam: protection of the earth
• mahī-rakṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣaṇa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक/भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (महीरक्षणम् = पृथिव्याः रक्षणम्)

• ācacāra: he undertook/practised
• ācacāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narada (narrating a kshetra-related royal episode within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Matsyadhvaja
• Putra (the son/royal heir)
• Pitu (father)

FAQs

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

It frames righteous governance as a dharmic duty: orderly service (obedient attendants) and compassionate action culminate in mahī-rakṣaṇa—protecting the world for the welfare of the distressed.

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

Bhakti is implied through selfless duty: serving elders (pituḥ ājñā), caring for the suffering (ārtta-sukha), and protecting creation are presented as actions aligned with divine order, a lived form of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is Rajadharma—administration and social order through proper नियुक्ति (appointment) and responsibility for public welfare.