Shloka 4

Mohinī-prashna

The Question about Mohinī

Devanagari script

एकादश्यां न भोक्तव्यं पक्षयोरुभयोरपि । अगम्यागमने देवि अभक्ष्यस्य च भक्षणे ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

ekādaśyāṃ na bhoktavyaṃ pakṣayorubhayorapi | agamyāgamane devi abhakṣyasya ca bhakṣaṇe || 4 ||

Translation

ଏକାଦଶୀରେ—ଶୁକ୍ଳ ଓ କୃଷ୍ଣ ଉଭୟ ପକ୍ଷରେ—ଭୋଜନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ। ହେ ଦେବୀ! ଅଗମ୍ୟଗମନ ଓ ଅଭକ୍ଷ୍ୟଭକ୍ଷଣରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ପ୍ରବୃତ୍ତ ହେବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ।

Word by Word

• एकादश्याम्: on Ekādaśī (11th lunar day)
• एकादश्याम्: अधिकरण (Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (on Ekādaśī)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• भोक्तव्यम्: should be eaten (i.e., one should eat)
• भोक्तव्यम्: क्रिया (Obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) > भोक्तव्य (कृदन्त, तव्यत्)
• Form: कर्तरि/कर्मणि विधेय-भाव (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Gerundive (is to be eaten/one should eat) with negation = must not eat

• पक्षयोः: of the two fortnights
• पक्षयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी विभक्ति, द्विवचन; here Genitive dual (of the two fortnights)

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; Genitive dual; adjective to पक्षयोः

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) = also/even

• अगम्य-आगमने: in going to the forbidden (illicit approach)
• अगम्य-आगमने: अधिकरण (Context/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगम्य (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + आगमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अगम्यस्य आगमनम्)

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative

• अभक्ष्यस्य: of the inedible/forbidden food
• अभक्ष्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular (of what is not to be eaten)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• भक्षणे: in eating/consumption
• भक्षणे: अधिकरण (Occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (in eating)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekadashi

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi

FAQs

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

It frames Ekādaśī as a day of heightened discipline: restraint in food and conduct preserves ritual purity and supports devotional focus, making the vrata effective.

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

By prescribing self-control (especially on Ekādaśī), it protects the devotee’s mind from sense-indulgence, aligning daily behavior with a Vishnu-centered vrata that nourishes bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through vrata-niyamas—specific do’s and don’ts tied to the lunar tithi (Ekādaśī) across both pakṣas.