Shloka 1

Śikṣā-nirūpaṇa (Exposition of Discipline): Son’s Marriage, Paternal Duty, and Royal Administration

Devanagari script

मांधातोवाच । पुत्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा किं चकार महीपतिः । सा चापि मोहिनी ब्रह्मन्प्रिया राज्ञो विधेः सुता ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

māṃdhātovāca | putrasya vacanaṃ śrutvā kiṃ cakāra mahīpatiḥ | sā cāpi mohinī brahmanpriyā rājño vidheḥ sutā || 1 ||

Translation

ମାନ୍ଧାତା କହିଲେ—ହେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ! ପୁତ୍ରର ବଚନ ଶୁଣି ରାଜା କ’ଣ କଲେ? ଏବଂ ସେଇ ମୋହିନୀ ମଧ୍ୟ—ରାଜାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରିୟା—ବିଧାତା (ବ୍ରହ୍ମା)ଙ୍କ କନ୍ୟା ଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• मांधातोः: of Māṃdhātṛ
• मांधातोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांधातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; वक्तृ-निर्देश (of Māṃdhātṛ)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुत्रस्य: of (his) son
• पुत्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वचनम्: speech; words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund); ‘having heard’

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• चकार: did
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महीपतिः: the king
• महीपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘महीपतेः’ = ‘lord of the earth’

• सा: she
• सा: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• मोहिनी: Mohinī (enchantress)
• मोहिनी: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधनपद

• प्रिया: beloved
• प्रिया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• विधेः: of Vidhī (Brahmā)
• विधेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; here ‘Brahmā’

• सुता: daughter
• सुता: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Māndhātā

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Curiosity and wonder drive pointed questions that set up the next narrative turn."}

Characters & Entities

• Māndhātā
• son (unnamed)
• mahīpati (the king)
• Mohinī
• Vidhātṛ (Brahmā)

FAQs

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

It frames a dharmic inquiry: a king’s response to counsel (his son’s words) and the presence of “mohinī” signal the Purāṇic theme that worldly fascination can test royal discernment and duty.

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

Indirectly, it sets up a contrast: attachment to an enchanting figure (mohinī) can distract from higher aims, while bhakti in Narada Purana repeatedly emphasizes steadiness of mind and right choice after hearing good instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedāṅga instruction appears in this verse; it primarily functions as narrative dialogue (samvāda) introducing a moral-ethical situation rather than a technical teaching in vyākaraṇa, jyotiṣa, or kalpa.