Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

वक्ष्ये वचः प्राणहरं तवाधुना भर्तुः सलोकस्य वधूजनस्य । धर्मापहं वाच्यकरं ममापि कर्तुं न शक्यं मनसापि भीरु ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

vakṣye vacaḥ prāṇaharaṃ tavādhunā bhartuḥ salokasya vadhūjanasya | dharmāpahaṃ vācyakaraṃ mamāpi kartuṃ na śakyaṃ manasāpi bhīru || 35 ||

Translation

ఓ భీరూ, ఇప్పుడు నీకు ప్రాణహరమైన మాటలు చెప్పబోతున్నాను—నీ భర్త గురించీ, ఈ లోకంలోని స్త్రీల గురించీ. కానీ ధర్మాన్ని హరించే, చెప్పగానే కార్యరూపం దాల్చే మాటను నేను మనసులోనైనా చేయలేను.

Word by Word

• vakṣye: I will speak
• vakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Future tense (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular

• vacaḥ: words/speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana/vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (ending -aḥ as in vacaḥ)

• prāṇaharam: life-taking
• prāṇaharam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘prāṇān harati’/‘prāṇasya haraḥ’; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies vacaḥ

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular सर्वनाम

• adhunā: now
• adhunā: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhunā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• bhartuḥ: of the husband
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• salokasya: of (his) whole world/people around
• salokasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa- (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya ‘sa lokaḥ’ = ‘with the world/people’; Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular; qualifies vadhūjanasya (or bhartuḥ)

• vadhūjanasya: of the womenfolk
• vadhūjanasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadhū (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘vadhūnām janaḥ’; Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• dharmāpaham: dharma-destroying
• dharmāpaham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + apaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘dharmam apaharati’ (object relation); Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies vacaḥ

• vācyakaram: making it utterable/fit to be said
• vācyakaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vācya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, यत्) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘vācyam karoti’ = ‘making (it) speakable/fit to be said’; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies vacaḥ

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular सर्वनाम

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि) = ‘even/also’

• kartum: to do
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + kartum (कृदन्त, तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

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

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śak (धातु) + śakya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, यत्)
• Form: Potential/gerundive (यत्) from √śak; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; used predicatively ‘possible’

• manasā: by mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि) = ‘even’

• bhīru: O timid one
• bhīru: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative dialogue voice not provided in the input excerpt)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dharma-sādhana through restraint: even when one knows painful or dangerous truths, one should not speak in a way that destroys dharma or incites adharma.

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

Bhakti is grounded in dharmic character; the verse highlights self-control (especially of speech and intention), which supports a pure mind fit for devotion to Bhagavan.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Vyākaraṇa/Nīti-style discipline of speech—using words responsibly, avoiding counsel that leads to adharmic action, and maintaining śāstra-consistent communication.