Shloka 18

The Description of Mohinī’s Love Episode

Devanagari script

पुत्रो विनीतः पितृशासने रतो वधूः स्थिता हस्तपुटे च श्वश्रोः । द्विजोपदेशे हि जनो व्यवस्थितो वेदोक्तधर्माचरणाद्द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

putro vinītaḥ pitṛśāsane rato vadhūḥ sthitā hastapuṭe ca śvaśroḥ | dvijopadeśe hi jano vyavasthito vedoktadharmācaraṇāddvijottamāḥ || 18 ||

Translation

ପୁତ୍ର ପିତାଙ୍କ ଶାସନରେ ବିନୀତ ଓ ନିରତ ରହେ; ବହୁ ସାଶୁଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ହାତ ଯୋଡ଼ି ଦଣ୍ଡାୟମାନ ରହେ। ଲୋକେ ଦ୍ୱିଜମାନଙ୍କ ଉପଦେଶରେ ସ୍ଥିତ ରହନ୍ତି, ଏବଂ ବେଦୋକ୍ତ ଧର୍ମାଚରଣରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଦ୍ୱିଜ (ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ) ଉଦ୍ଭବ ହୁଅନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• पुत्रः: the son
• पुत्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विनीतः: well-disciplined
• विनीतः: विशेषण (Adjectival to Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-नी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘पुत्रः’)

• पितृ-शासने: in the father’s command/discipline
• पितृ-शासने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘पितुः शासनम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• रतः: devoted/engaged
• रतः: विशेषण (Adjectival to Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘रक्त/रत’ अर्थे ‘आसक्त’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘पुत्रः’)

• वधूः: the daughter-in-law
• वधूः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्थिताः: standing/remaining
• स्थिताः: विशेषण (Adjectival to Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘वधूः’)

• हस्त-पुटे: in the cupped hands
• हस्त-पुटे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘हस्तस्य पुटः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• श्वश्रोः: of the mother-in-law
• श्वश्रोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वश्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• द्विज-उपदेशे: in the instruction of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विज-उपदेशे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘द्विजस्य उपदेशः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• जनः: people/person
• जनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• व्यवस्थितः: well-established/steadfast
• व्यवस्थितः: विशेषण (Adjectival to Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-अव-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘जनः’)

• वेद-उक्त-धर्म-आचरणात्: from practicing the Veda-enjoined dharma
• वेद-उक्त-धर्म-आचरणात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आचरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative chain): ‘वेदेन उक्तः धर्मः’ + ‘धर्मस्य आचरणम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग ‘आचरण’, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• द्विज-उत्तमाः: the best of the twice-born
• द्विज-उत्तमाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘उत्तमाः द्विजाः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga dharma context; dialogue traditionally framed around Narada’s instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"From orderly household humility (son/daughter-in-law) to social stability under dvija-guidance, culminating in praise of Veda-grounded dharma."}

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (twice-born)
• Veda

FAQs

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

It presents sadācāra (right conduct) as a spiritual foundation: disciplined family life, respect for elders, and alignment with vedokta dharma create the conditions for inner purity and dharmic stability in society.

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

Bhakti is strengthened when life is ordered by Vedic dharma—humility, service, and obedience to righteous guidance reduce ego and make the mind fit for devotion, worship, and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes reliance on dvija-upadeśa—authoritative instruction grounded in śāstra—reflecting the applied side of Kalpa (ritual/dharma procedure) and the broader discipline of interpreting vedokta duties in daily life.