Shloka 37

Mohinī-ākhyāna: The Trial of Ekādaśī and the King’s Satya-saṅkalpa

Devanagari script

करोषि चेन्न मे वाक्यं धर्मबाह्यो भविष्यसि । धर्मबाह्यो हि पुरुषः पांशुना तुल्यतां व्रजेत् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

karoṣi cenna me vākyaṃ dharmabāhyo bhaviṣyasi | dharmabāhyo hi puruṣaḥ pāṃśunā tulyatāṃ vrajet || 37 ||

Translation

నీవు నా మాట ప్రకారం చేయకపోతే ధర్మబాహ్యుడవు అవుతావు; ధర్మబాహ్యుడైన పురుషుడు నిజంగా ధూళితో సమానమగును।

Word by Word

• karoṣi: you do
• karoṣi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• cet: if
• cet: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (यदि-अर्थे निपात)

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

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; enclitic form

• vākyam: word/command
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• dharma-bāhyaḥ: outside dharma
• dharma-bāhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; compound: dharmāt bāhyaḥ (outside dharma)

• bhaviṣyasi: you will become
• bhaviṣyasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• dharma-bāhyaḥ: one outside dharma
• dharma-bāhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; repeated for emphasis

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), causal/emphatic

• puruṣaḥ: a man/person
• puruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• pāṃśunā: with dust; like dust
• pāṃśunā: Upamāna/Instrument (उपमान-प्रयोगे तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṃśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (commonly masculine in instr.), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tulyatām: equality/sameness
• tulyatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulyatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of ‘vrajet’

• vrajet: would go/attain
• vrajet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (व्रज् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Narada (admonishing/instructing the listener in a dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It warns that disregarding righteous instruction pushes a person outside dharma, causing spiritual worthlessness—symbolized by becoming “like dust,” i.e., lacking inner value and auspicious destiny.

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

Bhakti is sustained by obedience to dharmic guidance (guru/śāstra-vākya). Ignoring such guidance erodes the foundation of devotion, because devotion in the Purāṇic framework is protected by right conduct (sadācāra).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śāstra-vākya-anusaraṇa—practical adherence to scriptural injunctions and ethical discipline rather than a specific Vedāṅga technique; it aligns most closely with Dharmaśāstra-style niyama (rule-based conduct).