Shloka 11

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

शशिहीनां निशां भूप ऋत्विग्घीनां क्रियामिव । पराजितो यथा मर्त्यः प्रम्लानकुसुमं यथा ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

śaśihīnāṃ niśāṃ bhūpa ṛtvigghīnāṃ kriyāmiva | parājito yathā martyaḥ pramlānakusumaṃ yathā || 11 ||

Translation

ହେ ଭୂପ, ଯେପରି ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରହୀନ ରାତି, ଯେପରି ଋତ୍ୱିଜହୀନ ଯଜ୍ଞକ୍ରିୟା; ଯେପରି ପରାଜିତ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ, ଯେପରି ମ୍ଲାନ ପୁଷ୍ପ—ସେପରି ସବୁ ଶୋଭାହୀନ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• śaśi-hīnām: devoid of the moon
• śaśi-hīnām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaśi (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śaśeḥ hīnā = devoid of moon)

• niśām: night
• niśām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhūpa: O king
• bhūpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• ṛtvig-hīnām: lacking officiating priests
• ṛtvig-hīnām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṛtvij (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ṛtvijaḥ hīnā = lacking priests)

• kriyām: ritual act / rite
• kriyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: like/as
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-particle (उपमा-अव्यय)

• parājitaḥ: defeated
• parājitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā-ji (धातु) → parājita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yathā: as/just as
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative indeclinable (यथा-प्रकारेण)

• martyaḥ: a mortal man
• martyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: martya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• pramlāna-kusumam: a withered flower
• pramlāna-kusumam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramlāna (प्रातिपदिक) + kusuma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) / Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः कर्मधारयः (pramlānaṃ kusumam = a withered flower)

• yathā: as/just as
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative indeclinable (यथा-प्रकारेण)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"karuna","emotional_journey":"A calm but poignant string of similes evokes lack, defeat, and fading beauty to stress the emptiness of a thing missing its essential support."}

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that when an essential supporting element is missing, the intended beauty, power, or auspiciousness is diminished—just as moonless night, priestless ritual, defeat, and a withered flower all signify loss of splendor and efficacy.

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

By using images of “missing essentials,” it implies that devotion must be complete—supported by right conduct and proper observances—so that bhakti is not merely sentiment but a well-formed, life-sustaining practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to ritual competence (kalpa in practice) and the functional role of ṛtvij (officiating priests) in yajña/kriyā—showing that correct performance and qualified agency are considered crucial for a rite’s intended result.