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Shloka 54

Mohinī’s Speech

Mohinyāḥ Bhāṣaṇam

नाशुचिर्द्धर्ममाप्नोति न विप्रोऽप्रियवाग्धनम् । अपृच्छन्नैव जानाति अगच्छन्न क्वचिद्व्रजेत् ॥ ५४ ॥

nāśucirddharmamāpnoti na vipro'priyavāgdhanam | apṛcchannaiva jānāti agacchanna kvacidvrajet || 54 ||

अशुचिर्धर्मं नाप्नोति; विप्रोऽप्रियवाक् धनं न लभते। अपृच्छन् न जानाति; अगच्छन् क्वचिदपि न व्रजेत्॥

nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय
aśuciḥan impure person
aśuciḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roota-śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; privative a- ‘impure’
dharmamdharma/righteousness
dharmam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootdharma (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
āpnotiattains
āpnoti:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√āp (आप् धातु)
Formलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय
vipraḥa brahmin
vipraḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvipra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन
a-priya-vāk-dhanamwealth of harsh speech (i.e., abusive words)
a-priya-vāk-dhanam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roota-priya (प्रातिपदिक) + vāk (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (अप्रियाः वाचः यस्य तत् धनम् / अप्रियवाक्-धनम् = ‘wealth consisting of unpleasant speech’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
a-pṛcchannot asking (questions)
a-pṛcchan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Roota-pṛcchat (कृदन्त; √prach प्रच्छ् धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle) with privative a- ‘not asking’
evaindeed/only
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
Formअवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)
jānātiknows
jānāti:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
Formलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
a-gacchannot going
a-gacchan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Roota-gacchat (कृदन्त; √gam गम् धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त with privative a- ‘not going’
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय
kvacitanywhere
kvacit:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkvacit (अव्यय)
Formदेश/कालवाचक अव्यय (indefinite adverb) ‘anywhere/sometime’
vrajetshould go
vrajet:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vraj (व्रज् धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Narada (teaching in an instructional sequence within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata: none

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"none","emotional_journey":"A steady, corrective tone: purity and pleasant speech enable dharma and prosperity; inquiry and initiative enable learning and progress."}

FAQs

It links spiritual attainment to lived discipline: purity of conduct, restraint in speech, humility to inquire, and personal effort—showing that Dharma is realized through practice, not status or theory.

Bhakti matures through sādhana: inner and outer cleanliness, non-hurtful speech, and active seeking of guidance. The verse implies devotion is ineffective without transforming conduct and making sincere efforts.

It emphasizes disciplined speech and correct communication—aligned with Vyākaraṇa (proper usage) and Śikṣā (sound/speech discipline)—and the Vedic method of learning through praśna (inquiry) to a qualified teacher.