Shloka 138

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

Devanagari script

द्रव्याशया प्रविष्टोऽहं सागरं तिमिसंकुलम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा राक्षसी शक्तिं समानीय नगस्थिताम् ॥ १३८ ॥

Transliteration

dravyāśayā praviṣṭo'haṃ sāgaraṃ timisaṃkulam | tacchrutvā rākṣasī śaktiṃ samānīya nagasthitām || 138 ||

Translation

ด้วยความใคร่ในทรัพย์ ข้าพเจ้าได้ลงสู่มหาสมุทรอันมืดมนหนาทึบ ครั้นนางได้ยินดังนั้น จึงเรียกพลังดุจนางรากษสีซึ่งสถิตอยู่บนภูเขามา

Word by Word

• द्रव्याशया: by desire for wealth
• द्रव्याशया: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य-आशया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्रव्यस्य आशया = by desire/hope for wealth)

• प्रविष्टः: entered
• प्रविष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘entered’ (agreeing with अहम्)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन (1st person pronoun)

• सागरम्: the ocean
• सागरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन

• तिमिसंकुलम्: crowded with timi (fishes/sea-creatures)
• तिमिसंकुलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिमि-संकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (तिमिभिः संकुलम् = crowded with fishes/sea-monsters), सागरम् इति विशेषणम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘that’ (object of श्रुत्वा)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययभावे क्त्वान्त (gerund), ‘having heard’

• राक्षसी: demonic
• राक्षसी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शक्तिम् इति विशेषणम् (‘demonic/ogress-like’)

• शक्तिम्: power/force
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समानीय: having brought
• समानीय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-नी (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययभावे ल्यबन्त/ल्यपन्त (gerund), ‘having brought/assembled’

• नगस्थिताम्: situated on a mountain
• नगस्थिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नग-स्थित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (नगे स्थिता = situated on a mountain), शक्तिम् इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narrator (within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya frame; specific speaker not explicit in this single verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It frames greed (dravyāśayā) as a motive that leads one into peril (the darkness-filled ocean), implying that desire-driven action invites frightening consequences and obstructs dharmic clarity.

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

By contrast: the verse highlights how wealth-desire pulls the mind into 'darkness,' whereas bhakti is traditionally presented as the purifying, fear-dispelling orientation toward the Divine rather than toward acquisition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discernment in motive (saṅkalpa)—a prerequisite for effective ritual and pilgrimage conduct in tirtha-mahātmyas.