Shloka 23

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

पुत्रहत्या महाहत्या ब्रह्महत्याधिका प्रिये । घातयित्वा सुतं लोके का गतिर्म्मे भविष्यति ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

putrahatyā mahāhatyā brahmahatyādhikā priye | ghātayitvā sutaṃ loke kā gatirmme bhaviṣyati || 23 ||

Translation

ପ୍ରିୟେ, ପୁତ୍ରହତ୍ୟା ମହାପାପ—ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣହତ୍ୟାଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଧିକ। ଏହି ଲୋକରେ ମୁଁ ନିଜ ପୁତ୍ରକୁ ହତ୍ୟା କଲେ ମୋର କି ଗତି ହେବ?

Word by Word

• पुत्रहत्या: son-killing
• पुत्रहत्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र-हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पुत्रस्य हत्या)

• महाहत्या: a great sin (great killing)
• महाहत्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā-हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महती हत्या)

• ब्रह्महत्या: Brahmin-killing
• ब्रह्महत्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणः हत्या)

• अधिका: greater (than)
• अधिका: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (comparative sense: ‘greater/ surpassing’)

• प्रिये: O beloved
• प्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• घातयित्वा: having caused (him) to be killed
• घातयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घातय् (धातु; √हन् causative)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी-प्रयोग; ‘having caused to be killed’

• सुतम्: son
• सुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• का: what? (which?)
• का: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• गतिः: fate; course; destination
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मे: of me; my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; enclitic

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

A questioning householder/royal figure addressing his beloved (contextual interlocutor within the narrative); teaching frame ultimately attributed to Narada Purana’s dialogue tradition

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It highlights the gravity of mahā-pātakas (heinous sins) by placing putra-hatyā among the most destructive karmas, prompting a dharmic inquiry into consequences and the need for purification/atonement.

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

Indirectly: by stressing moral accountability, it prepares the ground for refuge-oriented practice—seeking purification through dharma, sacred observances, and ultimately devotion as a transformative remedy for fallen states.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds Dharma-śāstric categorization of sins (mahā-hatyā/mahā-pātaka) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; it points toward prayāścitta reasoning that is typically articulated using precise Vyākaraṇa-based terminology and ritual logic.