Shloka 37

Dialogue of Father and Son (Pitṛputra-saṃvāda) — Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

त्रैलोक्यस्यापि दानेन न शुद्ध्येत ऋणात्सुतः । किं पुनर्देहवित्ताभ्यां केशदानादिभिर्विभो ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

trailokyasyāpi dānena na śuddhyeta ṛṇātsutaḥ | kiṃ punardehavittābhyāṃ keśadānādibhirvibho || 37 ||

Translation

แม้จะถวายทานทรัพย์แห่งสามโลก บุตรที่เกิดมาพร้อมหนี้ก็ยังไม่บริสุทธิ์ แล้วไฉนเล่า โอ้พระผู้ยิ่งใหญ่ การสละกายหรือทรัพย์ เช่น การถวายเส้นผมและสิ่งอื่น ๆ จะชำระได้เพียงใด

Word by Word

• त्रैलोक्यस्य: of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रयाणि लोकानि)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (also/even)

• दानेन: by giving/donation
• दानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• शुद्ध्येत: would be purified
• शुद्ध्येत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः (be purified)

• ऋणात्: from debt
• ऋणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (ablative), एकवचन

• सुतः: a son
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• किम्: what (then)?
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-निपात (interrogative particle, 'what then')

• पुनः: then/how much more
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (again; here: 'how much more')

• देहवित्ताभ्याम्: by (one's) body and wealth
• देहवित्ताभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह + वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (देहश्च वित्तं च)

• केशदानादिभिः: by hair-offering etc.
• केशदानादिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशदान + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार/समुच्चयार्थे 'आदि' (etc.); केशदान-शब्दः (केशानां दानम्)

• विभो: O lord
• विभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a Dharma/Tirtha-oriented discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

The verse stresses that deep moral obligations—especially debt and its karmic burden—are not erased by outward charity or symbolic austerities; true purification requires responsible discharge of obligations and righteous conduct.

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

By downplaying merely external acts (like hair-donation), it implicitly prioritizes inner integrity and dharmic responsibility—qualities that make devotion sincere rather than transactional.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Dharma-śāstra style reasoning: ritual substitutions (minor gifts or bodily offerings) cannot override binding obligations like ṛṇa; practical conduct and ethical duty are treated as foundational to religious life.