Shloka 126

The Account of Kāṣṭhīlā (Kāṣṭhīlā-ākhyāna) within the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

गतिस्तामनुगच्छामि यद्येतदनृतं वदे । पंचम्यां च तथाष्टम्यां यत्पापं मांसभक्षणे ॥ १२६ ॥

Transliteration

gatistāmanugacchāmi yadyetadanṛtaṃ vade | paṃcamyāṃ ca tathāṣṭamyāṃ yatpāpaṃ māṃsabhakṣaṇe || 126 ||

Translation

यद्येतदनृतं वदे तां गतिमनुगच्छामि; पञ्चम्यां तथाष्टम्यां मांसभक्षणे यत्पापं (तदिव)॥

Word by Word

• गतिः: the fate
• गतिः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनुगच्छामि: I follow / I go after
• अनुगच्छामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (वदे)

• अनृतम्: untruth, falsehood
• अनृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; एतत्-विशेषण

• वदे: I speak
• वदे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• पञ्चम्याम्: on the fifth (lunar day)
• पञ्चम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (tithi-locative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अष्टम्याम्: on the eighth (lunar day)
• अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यत्-विशेष्य

• मांस-भक्षणे: in meat-eating
• मांस-भक्षणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण ‘in eating meat’

Speaker

Narada (didactic warning in a vrata/dharma discussion)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: tithi-niyama (observance) on Pañcamī and Aṣṭamī (implicit vrata-like restriction)

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhayanaka","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"The speaker stakes truth on accepting a dreadful fate, then specifies concrete calendrical sins (meat-eating on certain tithis), shifting fear into practical restraint."}

FAQs

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

It uses a strong oath-formula to underline the gravity of pāpa incurred through meat-eating on specific tithis, emphasizing purity of conduct as part of vrata-oriented dharma.

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

By prescribing restraint and tithi-discipline, it supports bhakti through śauca (purity) and niyama (ethical observance), which are traditionally treated as supportive limbs for sustained devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical discipline based on tithi (lunar day), aligning with Jyotiṣa-style time-reckoning used for vrata observance and ritual purity regulations.