Shloka 41

Mohinī’s Speech

Mohinyāḥ Bhāṣaṇam

Devanagari script

मोहिनीं मोहसंयुक्तां तप्तकांचनसप्रभाम् । उपास्य मानां प्रियया संध्यावल्या शनैः शनैः ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

mohinīṃ mohasaṃyuktāṃ taptakāṃcanasaprabhām | upāsya mānāṃ priyayā saṃdhyāvalyā śanaiḥ śanaiḥ || 41 ||

Translation

அவள் மோகினி; மயக்கத்தில் மூழ்கி, காய்ந்த பொன்னென ஒளிர்ந்து, மரியாதையின் பெருமிதத்தில் திளைத்தவள்; அன்பான சந்த்யாவளி அவளை மெதுவாகச் சேவை செய்து பராமரித்தாள்.

Word by Word

• मोहिनीम्: the enchantress (Mohinī)
• मोहिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मोहसंयुक्ताम्: joined with delusion
• मोहसंयुक्ताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √युज् + सम्- उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (मोहेन संयुक्ताम्)

• तप्तकाञ्चनसप्रभाम्: having the radiance of heated gold
• तप्तकाञ्चनसप्रभाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त (प्रातिपदिक; √तप् + क्त) + काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + स- (उपसर्ग/समास-पूर्वपद) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: तप्तकाञ्चनस्य सप्रभा (having the luster of heated gold)

• उपास्य: having served/attended
• उपास्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु) + उप- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having attended/served)

• मानाम्: honored/respected
• मानाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (honored/respected)

• प्रियया: by the beloved (wife)
• प्रियया: Karaṇa/Agent-associate (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• संध्यावल्या: by Sandhyāvalī
• संध्यावल्या: Karaṇa/Agent-associate (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्यावली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• शनैः: very slowly/gradually
• शनैः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara (love)

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa (disgust)

Characters & Entities

• Saṃdhyāvalī
• Mohinī

FAQs

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

It highlights how fascination and outward splendor (gold-like radiance) can coexist with moha (delusion), and how gradual, subtle influence (“śanaiḥ śanaiḥ”) operates within a sacred narrative setting.

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

Indirectly, it contrasts service/attendance (upāsya) with deluded attachment; Bhakti in the Purāṇic frame values service offered with clear devotion rather than being driven by मोह (confusion) or pride in honor.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this line; the key takeaway is ethical-psychological—recognizing moha and māna (pride in honor)—which supports disciplined conduct alongside Purāṇic ritual life.