Shloka 17

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

गृहस्थं भार्यया हीनं राष्ट्रभ्रष्टं च भूपतिम् । भग्नक्रियं यथा वैद्यं भग्नशाखं यथा द्रुमम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

gṛhasthaṃ bhāryayā hīnaṃ rāṣṭrabhraṣṭaṃ ca bhūpatim | bhagnakriyaṃ yathā vaidyaṃ bhagnaśākhaṃ yathā drumam || 17 ||

Translation

ดุจคฤหัสถ์ไร้ภรรยา ดุจกษัตริย์ผู้สูญสิ้นแว่นแคว้น; ดุจแพทย์ที่การรักษาล้มเหลว และดุจต้นไม้กิ่งหัก—ล้วนเสื่อมกำลังและไร้ผล

Word by Word

• गृहस्थम्: a householder
• गृहस्थम्: उपमेय/कर्म (तुलनायाम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गृहे स्थः)

• भार्यया: by/with a wife
• भार्यया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/सहायक-निर्देश (instrumental: 'by/with')

• हीनम्: deprived (of)
• हीनम्: विशेषण (विशेष्य-गृहस्थ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (गृहस्थम्)

• राष्ट्रभ्रष्टम्: fallen from the kingdom
• राष्ट्रभ्रष्टम्: विशेषण (विशेष्य-भूपति)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राष्ट्र-भ्रष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (भूपतिम्); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राष्ट्रात् भ्रष्टः/राष्ट्रस्य भ्रष्टः)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction: 'and')

• भूपतिम्: a king
• भूपतिम्: उपमेय/कर्म (तुलनायाम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमेय/उपमान-सम्बन्ध (object in comparison)

• भग्नक्रियम्: whose practice is ruined / ineffective in action
• भग्नक्रियम्: विशेषण (विशेष्य-वैद्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न-क्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (वैद्यम्); समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (भग्ना क्रिया यस्य/भग्नक्रियः)

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

• वैद्यम्: a physician
• वैद्यम्: उपमान (तुलनायाम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमान

• भग्नशाखम्: with broken branches
• भग्नशाखम्: विशेषण (विशेष्य-द्रुम)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न-शाख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (द्रुमम्); समासः तत्पुरुषः (भग्ना शाखा यस्य)

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

• द्रुमम्: a tree
• द्रुमम्: उपमान (तुलनायाम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमान

Speaker

Narada

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 teaches that when a person is cut off from the proper support of their dharma—role, responsibility, and sustaining order—their capacity to act fruitfully declines, just as a broken tree or an unpracticing physician becomes ineffective.

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

By implication, bhakti thrives with steadiness and proper dharmic grounding; when one’s life becomes fragmented and duties collapse, devotion also becomes harder to sustain—so the verse urges restoration of order and integrity in one’s station.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily niti and dharma instruction using upamā (analogy), not a Vedanga technical teaching; it emphasizes practical discernment (viveka) about roles and functional competency rather than grammar, astrology, or ritual procedure.