Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

मत्पतिर्दैवयोगेन दीर्घ काष्ठं समाश्रितः । वायुना नीयमानोऽसौ प्राचीनेन स्वकर्मणा ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

matpatirdaivayogena dīrgha kāṣṭhaṃ samāśritaḥ | vāyunā nīyamāno'sau prācīnena svakarmaṇā || 68 ||

Translation

मत्पतिर्दैवयोगेन दीर्घकाष्ठं समाश्रितः। वायुना नीयमानोऽसौ प्राचीनेन स्वकर्मणा॥

Word by Word

• मत्पतिः: my lord/master
• मत्पतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): मत्- (मम/of me) + पति (lord)

• दैवयोगेन: by divine fate/connection
• दैवयोगेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: दैव (fate/divine) + योग (connection/means)

• दीर्घम्: long
• दीर्घम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies काष्ठम्)

• काष्ठम्: a piece of wood/log
• काष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समाश्रितः: having taken refuge in / supported on
• समाश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; participle agreeing with मत्पतिः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘समाश्रित’ = having resorted to/being supported on

• वायुना: by the wind
• वायुना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• नीयमानः: being carried along
• नीयमानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; participle agreeing with असौ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (present passive participle/शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः: ‘being carried/led’

• असौ: that one/he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्राचीनेन: former/previous
• प्राचीनेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राचीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies स्वकर्मणा)

• स्वकर्मणा: by his own (past) deeds
• स्वकर्मणा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: स्व (one’s own) + कर्मन् (deed)

Speaker

Narrator within the Tirtha-Mahatmya dialogue (as relayed in Uttara-Bhaga); traditionally framed through Suta’s narration of the Purana

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 emphasizes that apparent “chance” events—being saved or swept away—unfold through daiva (the ripening of destiny) powered by one’s own prācīna-karma, reinforcing moral causality in Purāṇic dharma.

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

Indirectly, it prepares the ground for bhakti by showing the limits of mere circumstance: since karma propels embodied life, devotion to Bhagavān is taught elsewhere in the Narada Purana as a higher refuge that purifies karma and reorients destiny toward liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects the karma-phala principle central to Dharmaśāstra reasoning; while not a direct Vedāṅga lesson, it aligns with Nirukta/Vyākaraṇa-style precision in terms like daiva-yoga and prācīna-karma used to interpret causality in ritual-ethical narratives.