Shloka 16

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

धनधान्यविहीनं वा गृहं नृपवरोत्तम । जलहीनं यथा कुंभं पंकस्थं गोपतिं यथा ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

dhanadhānyavihīnaṃ vā gṛhaṃ nṛpavarottama | jalahīnaṃ yathā kuṃbhaṃ paṃkasthaṃ gopatiṃ yathā || 16 ||

Translation

ข้าแต่มหาราชผู้ประเสริฐ เรือนที่ไร้ทรัพย์และธัญญาหารย่อมดุจหม้อที่ไร้น้ำ; ดุจนายโคที่ติดหล่มโคลน ไม่อาจทำหน้าที่ได้

Word by Word

• धनधान्यविहीनम्: devoid of wealth and grain
• धनधान्यविहीनम्: विशेषण (विशेष्य-गृह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन-धान्य-विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धनधान्ययोः विहीनम्)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• गृहम्: a house
• गृहम्: उपमान-आश्रय/कर्म (तुलनायाम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद-रूपेण (object-like in comparison)

• नृपवर-उत्तम: O best of excellent kings
• नृपवर-उत्तम: सम्बोधन (आह्वान/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप-वर-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (नृपाणां वरः, तेषाम् उत्तमः)

• जलहीनम्: without water
• जलहीनम्: विशेषण (विशेष्य-कुम्भ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल-हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जलस्य हीनम्)

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: उपमान-निर्देशक (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle: 'as/like')

• कुम्भम्: a pot
• कुम्भम्: उपमान (तुलनायाम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमान (object of comparison)

• पङ्कस्थम्: standing in mud
• पङ्कस्थम्: विशेषण (विशेष्य-गोपति)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पङ्क-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (पङ्के स्थितम्)

• गोपतिम्: a cowherd/lord of cows
• गोपतिम्: उपमान (तुलनायाम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमान (object of comparison)

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: उपमान-निर्देशक (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

Speaker

Narada (addressing a king in the Uttara-Bhaga narrative frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It uses everyday metaphors to teach that a household must be sustained through dharmic means—resources like food and wealth are not mere luxury but support for duties such as hospitality, charity (dāna), worship, and service.

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

Bhakti in the Purāṇic frame is practiced through lived dharma: maintaining a functional home enables offerings, feeding guests and devotees, and supporting tirtha-related observances—devotion is strengthened when the householder can actually perform these acts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly it points to applied dharma in the gṛhastha stage—planning resources for rites and vows; while no single Vedāṅga is named, it aligns with kalpa (ritual practice) as it stresses the material prerequisites for sustaining religious duties.