Shloka 81

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

सदैव दुष्टदमने वर्तमानं धरातले । व्यसनैः सप्तभिर्घोरैरनाक्रांतं महीपतिम् ॥ ८० ॥

Transliteration

sadaiva duṣṭadamane vartamānaṃ dharātale | vyasanaiḥ saptabhirghorairanākrāṃtaṃ mahīpatim || 80 ||

Translation

Na terra, o rei, sempre empenhado em castigar os perversos, embora senhor do reino, foi ainda assim acometido por sete calamidades terríveis.

Word by Word

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis)

• दुष्ट-दमने: in the subduing of the wicked
• दुष्ट-दमने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + दमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः) ‘दुष्टानां दमनम्’

• वर्तमानम्: existing/being
• वर्तमानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्त् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (present participle, शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्थितम्/वर्तते’ इत्यर्थे विशेषणम्

• धरा-तले: on the surface of the earth
• धरा-तले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ‘धरायाः तलम्’

• व्यसनैः: by calamities/misfortunes
• व्यसनैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (plural)

• सप्तभिः: by seven
• सप्तभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग (numeral, all genders), तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘व्यसनैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• घोरैः: terrible
• घोरैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-प्रायः, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘व्यसनैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अनाक्रान्तम्: not overrun/untouched
• अनाक्रान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-क्रम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-उपसर्गयुक्त (अन्-)

• महीपतिम्: the king (lord of the earth)
• महीपतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ‘महीनां/महीयाḥ पतिḥ’

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It highlights that outwardly righteous duty (punishing the wicked) does not by itself guarantee protection; a ruler must also remain vigilant against inner and social “vyasanas” that erode dharma and invite suffering.

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

Indirectly, it implies that power and duty are fragile without higher refuge; in the Narada Purana’s worldview, steadiness in dharma is strengthened by devotion to Hari/Vishnu, which guards the mind from destructive tendencies.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse signals a dharma-śāstra theme often treated alongside niti: diagnosing “vyasana” (moral and practical failings) and applying disciplined conduct—supported by śikṣā/ācāra (right practice) and careful counsel—to preserve righteous rule.