Shloka 140
The Account of Kāṣṭhīlā (Kāṣṭhīlā-ākhyāna) within the Mohinī Narrative
गमनायोद्यतः कन्यां सा भीता वाक्यमब्रवीत् । कुमारीसेवने रक्षो महापापं विधीयते ॥ १४० ॥
gamanāyodyataḥ kanyāṃ sā bhītā vākyamabravīt | kumārīsevane rakṣo mahāpāpaṃ vidhīyate || 140 ||
అతడు కన్య వద్దకు వెళ్లేందుకు సిద్ధమవుతుండగా, ఆమె భయంతో ఇలా చెప్పింది—“ఓ రాక్షసా! కన్యను అపవిత్రం చేయడం మహాపాపం.”
Narrator (Purāṇic narrative voice; dialogue attributed to the frightened maiden)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It frames protection of the innocent and restraint of desire as core dharma: harming a maiden is explicitly declared mahāpāpa, reinforcing that spiritual progress requires ethical self-control.
Bhakti in the Purāṇic sense is inseparable from dharmic conduct; devotion to Viṣṇu is supported by samyama (sense-restraint) and avoidance of grave sins that obstruct purity of mind and worship.
Vyākaraṇa/usage nuance is implicit: the term “kumārī-sevana” is an ethical euphemism for sexual violation, showing how precise wording conveys dharmic prohibitions in narrative instruction.