Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

वरं मद्यस्य संस्पर्शो नास्य संगो नृपस्य वै । वरं नीलांबरस्पर्शो नास्य धर्मच्युतस्य हि ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

varaṃ madyasya saṃsparśo nāsya saṃgo nṛpasya vai | varaṃ nīlāṃbarasparśo nāsya dharmacyutasya hi || 44 ||

Translation

ดีกว่าคบกษัตริย์คือเพียงแตะสุรา; และดีกว่าคบผู้หลุดจากธรรมะคือเพียงแตะผ้าสีน้ำเงิน

Word by Word

• वरम्: better (preferable)
• वरम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रासङ्गिक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वरम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसकलिङ्ग)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), comparative particle; used as ‘better/preferable’

• मद्यस्य: of wine/liquor
• मद्यस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• संस्पर्शः: contact, touch
• संस्पर्शः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle

• अस्य: of him/for him
• अस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम्/अस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• सङ्गः: association, attachment
• सङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• नृपस्य: of the king
• नृपस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• वै: indeed, surely
• वै: Nipāta (निपात/बलार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle

• वरम्: better (preferable)
• वरम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रासङ्गिक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वरम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसकलिङ्ग)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), comparative particle; ‘better’

• नील-अम्बर-स्पर्शः: touch of a blue garment
• नील-अम्बर-स्पर्शः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘nīlāmbara’ (blue garment) as qualifier of ‘sparśa’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle

• अस्य: of him/for him
• अस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम्/अस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• धर्म-च्युतस्य: of one fallen from righteousness
• धर्म-च्युतस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + च्युत (कृदन्त, √च्यु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘dharma-cyuta’ = ‘fallen from dharma’

• हि: for, indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात/हेतु-बलार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), causal/emphatic particle (‘for/indeed’)

Speaker

Narada (instructional voice within Uttara-Bhaga teachings on dharma and conduct)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It teaches that moral and spiritual contamination comes more from close association with power-driven or dharma-fallen people than from incidental external contact; therefore one should prioritize satsanga and dharmic company.

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

Bhakti depends on inner purity and steady dharma; the verse warns that asatsanga (especially with those who distort dharma) undermines devotion, while careful companionship supports remembrance of Bhagavan and righteous conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights practical dharma-niti and sadachara: choosing association wisely as a daily discipline; while not a technical Vedanga lesson, it aligns with smriti-based conduct that supports mantra-japa, vrata, and worship by preserving purity.