Shloka 13

Mohinī-prashna

The Question about Mohinī

Devanagari script

अग्निमन्तो न विप्रा हि मन्यंते समुपोषणम् । वेदबाह्य कथं धर्मं भवांश्चरितुमिच्छति ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

agnimanto na viprā hi manyaṃte samupoṣaṇam | vedabāhya kathaṃ dharmaṃ bhavāṃścaritumicchati || 13 ||

Translation

வேள்வி அக்கினிகளைப் பேணும் பிராமணர்கள் முழு உபவாசத்தை ஏற்கார். அப்படியிருக்க வேதத்திற்கு வெளியான இத்தகைய தர்மத்தை நீங்கள் எவ்வாறு அனுசரிக்க விரும்புகிறீர்?

Word by Word

• agnimantaḥ: (those) maintaining the sacred fire
• agnimantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agnimant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• viprāḥ: Brahmins
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/causal particle (अव्यय-निपात)

• manyante: they consider
• manyante: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• samupoṣaṇam: complete fasting
• samupoṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sam-upoṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vedabāhya: O one outside the Veda (un-Vedic)
• vedabāhya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'outside of the Veda'); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• katham: how
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-अव्यय)

• dharmam: dharma, righteousness
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavān: you (sir)
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Honorific pronoun; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• caritum: to practice, to perform
• caritum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitive of purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु) → caritum (कृदन्त, तुमुन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्); expresses purpose

• icchati: wishes
• icchati: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada in an instructive dialogue tone)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vipra
• Veda
• Agni

FAQs

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

It stresses that religious austerities (like fasting) must remain consistent with Vedic dharma—especially for those bound to daily fire-ritual obligations—so that practice is disciplined rather than merely extreme.

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

By implying that devotion should be practiced within dharma: bhakti is strengthened when vows and austerities support (not violate) one’s prescribed duties, avoiding “non-Vedic” displays that disrupt legitimate obligations.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharma-śāstra application: an āhitāgni’s daily agnihotra and related rites require regulated diet and conduct, so total fasting may be inappropriate unless the Vedic rule-set permits it.