Shloka 3

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

भोजनं वासरे विष्णोर्वधं वा तनयस्य वै । धर्मत्यागाद्वरं नाथ पुत्रस्य विनिपातनम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

bhojanaṃ vāsare viṣṇorvadhaṃ vā tanayasya vai | dharmatyāgādvaraṃ nātha putrasya vinipātanam || 3 ||

Translation

హే నాథా! విష్ణువుకు పవిత్రమైన దినంలో భోజనం చేయడమో, స్వపుత్రవధమో కూడా—ధర్మత్యాగం కన్నా మేలైనది; ధర్మాన్ని వదలడం కన్నా పుత్రపతనమే శ్రేయస్కరం।

Word by Word

• भोजनम्: food; eating
• भोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

• वासरे: on the day
• वासरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive singular

• वधम्: killing; slaying
• वधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय; disjunctive particle ‘or’

• तनयस्य: of the son
• तनयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive singular

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय; emphatic particle

• धर्मत्यागात्: than abandoning dharma
• धर्मत्यागात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + त्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; ablative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य त्यागः)

• वरम्: better
• वरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; used predicatively ‘better’

• नाथ: O lord
• नाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative singular

• पुत्रस्य: of the son
• पुत्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive singular

• विनिपातनम्: causing to fall; destruction
• विनिपातनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + नि + पत् (धातु) + अन (प्रत्यय) → विनिपातन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम (action noun)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-focused discourse within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that dharma is non-negotiable: even extreme personal loss is portrayed as preferable to dharma-tyāga, stressing unwavering righteousness as the foundation of spiritual progress.

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

By highlighting a “day of Viṣṇu,” the verse implies that devotion is expressed through disciplined observance (niyama) and fidelity to dharma; true Viṣṇu-bhakti is not sentimental but dharma-rooted.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to vrata/niyama timing—observance tied to a specific sacred day—connecting to practical calendrical discipline (often aligned with Jyotiṣa-based tithi/vāra considerations in Purāṇic practice).