Shloka 38

The Account of Mohinī

Mohinī-upākhyāna

Devanagari script

मनसोत्पादिता देवी देवानां हितकारिणी । निशामय धरादेव यद्ब्रवीमि तवाग्रतः ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

manasotpāditā devī devānāṃ hitakāriṇī | niśāmaya dharādeva yadbravīmi tavāgrataḥ || 38 ||

Translation

ข้าแต่เจ้าแห่งปฐพี จงสดับเถิด: เทวีผู้บังเกิดจากจิตและทรงเกื้อกูลประโยชน์แก่เหล่าเทพ บัดนี้ทรงประกาศต่อหน้าท่านถึงถ้อยคำที่ข้าพเจ้าจะกล่าว

Word by Word

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with the mind)

• उत्पादिता: produced/created
• उत्पादिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्+पद् (धातु) → उत्पादित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past passive participle (kta), nominative singular feminine

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular feminine

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural masculine

• हितकारिणी: benefit-doing; beneficial
• हितकारिणी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित+कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular feminine; समासः—हितस्य कारिणी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• निशामय: listen/observe
• निशामय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+शम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Imperative, 2nd person singular

• धरादेव: O lord of the earth (king)
• धरादेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा+देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—धरायाः देवः (earth-lord)

• यत्: what/that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Relative pronoun, accusative singular neuter

• ब्रवीमि: I say
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative, 1st person singular

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular (of you/your)

• अग्रतः: in front; in your presence
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निबद्ध)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place: in front/presence)

Speaker

Narrator/reciter in the dialogue (contextual voice within Uttara-Bhaga narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Devāḥ (gods)
• Dharādeva (king/earth-lord)

FAQs

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

It frames Devī as a divinely purposeful power—beneficial to the devas—and emphasizes attentive listening (niśāmaya) as the prerequisite for receiving sacred instruction in a Mahatmya setting.

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

Bhakti here is implied through reverent attention and receptivity: the king is urged to listen in the presence of Devī, showing that devotion begins with śravaṇa (hearing) of sacred speech and divine intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights śravaṇa and precise verbal transmission (linked to Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa in practice): correct hearing and understanding of the spoken teaching is treated as essential before ritual or tirtha-related observance.