Shloka 39

Brahmā’s Discourse to Mohinī

Harivāsara, Desire, and the Satya-Test of Rukmāṅgada

Devanagari script

धिक्तस्य मूढमनसः कुकवेः कवित्वं यः स्त्रीमुखं च शशिनं च समीकरोति । भ्रूक्षेपविस्मितकटाक्षनिरीक्षनिरीक्षितानि कोपप्रसादहसितानि कुतः शशांके ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

dhiktasya mūḍhamanasaḥ kukaveḥ kavitvaṃ yaḥ strīmukhaṃ ca śaśinaṃ ca samīkaroti | bhrūkṣepavismitakaṭākṣanirīkṣanirīkṣitāni kopaprasādahasitāni kutaḥ śaśāṃke || 39 ||

Translation

น่าละอายต่อ “กวีนิพนธ์” ของกวีเลวผู้ใจทึบ ที่กล้าเทียบใบหน้าสตรีกับจันทร์ โอ้พระจันทร์! ในตัวท่านมีที่ใดเล่าซึ่งท่าทางคิ้ว การเหลือบมองอันพิศวงที่ถูกจ้องซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่า และอารมณ์โกรธ เมตตา กับรอยหัวเราะเช่นนั้น?

Word by Word

• धिक्: shame on!
• धिक्: Bhāva (भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धिक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निन्दार्थक-निपात (interjection of censure)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, एकवचन, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive singular)

• मूढ-मनसः: of the deluded-minded
• मूढ-मनसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ (√मुह् क्त; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, षष्ठी-विभक्ति; ‘of one whose mind is deluded’

• कुकवेः: of the bad poet
• कुकवेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुकवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive singular)

• कवित्वम्: poetic skill/poetry
• कवित्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (relative pronoun)

• स्त्री-मुखम्: a woman’s face
• स्त्री-मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• शशिनम्: the moon
• शशिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• समीकरोति: compares/makes equal
• समीकरोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ई-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘makes equal/compares’

• भ्रू-क्षेप-विस्मित-कटाक्ष-निरीक्षण-निरीक्षितानि: the observed (gestures): eyebrow-movements, amazed side-glances, looks
• भ्रू-क्षेप-विस्मित-कटाक्ष-निरीक्षण-निरीक्षितानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेप (√क्षिप्, घञ्; प्रातिपदिक) + विस्मित (√स्मि/विस्मि, क्त; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + कटाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + निरीक्षण (नि+√ईक्ष्, ल्युट्; प्रातिपदिक) + निरीक्षित (नि+√ईक्ष्, क्त; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ-समास (list-like compound of gestures); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘(those) observed: eyebrow-throws, amazed side-glances, looks…’

• कोप-प्रसाद-हसितानि: anger, grace, and smiles
• कोप-प्रसाद-हसितानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक) + हसित (√हस्, क्त; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (anger, favor, smiles); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया

• कुतः: how/whence
• कुतः: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative adverb) ‘whence/how (possible)?’

• शशाङ्के: O moon
• शशाङ्के: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशाङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative singular)

Speaker

Narada (contextual attribution within Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"hasya","secondary_rasa":"raudra","emotional_journey":"Begins with scornful condemnation of clichéd poetry, then pivots into witty praise-by-contrast: the Moon lacks the living expressions found in a woman’s face."}

Characters & Entities

• Shashanka (Moon)

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka (discernment) in speech and praise: superficial comparisons are criticized, and one is urged to recognize true qualities rather than repeating conventional flattery.

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

Indirectly, it refines devotional expression by warning against careless, clichéd praise; bhakti is strengthened when words are truthful, attentive, and aligned with real attributes rather than empty metaphor.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical takeaway relates to Vyākaraṇa and Nirukta-informed precision in meaning: the verse models careful semantic discrimination and rhetorical correctness (upamā-doṣa avoidance) in Sanskrit expression.