Shloka 42

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

दुर्लभा पुत्रसंप्राप्तिर्दुर्लभं पौष्करं जलम् । दुर्लभः शिष्टसंसर्गो दुर्लभा भक्तिरुच्यते ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

durlabhā putrasaṃprāptirdurlabhaṃ pauṣkaraṃ jalam | durlabhaḥ śiṣṭasaṃsargo durlabhā bhaktirucyate || 42 ||

Translation

Bihira ang pagkamit ng isang karapat-dapat na anak na lalaki; bihira rin ang banal na tubig ng Puṣkara. Bihira ang pakikisama sa tunay na marangal at mabuting-loob; at ang bhakti (taimtim na debosyon) ay sinasabing bihira rin.

Word by Word

• durlabhā: rare
• durlabhā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• putra-saṃprāptiḥ: obtaining a son
• putra-saṃprāptiḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃprāpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa ‘putrasya saṃprāptiḥ’ (attainment of a son)

• durlabham: rare
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; predicative with ‘jalam’

• pauṣkaram: of Puṣkara
• pauṣkaram: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pauṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective ‘from Puṣkara/Pushkara (tīrtha)’

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• durlabhaḥ: rare
• durlabhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• śiṣṭa-saṃsargaḥ: company of the virtuous
• śiṣṭa-saṃsargaḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa ‘śiṣṭaiḥ saṃsargaḥ’ / ‘śiṣṭasya saṃsargaḥ’ (association with the virtuous)

• durlabhā: rare
• durlabhā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ucyate: is said, is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथम), Ekavacana, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Karmaṇi prayoga (Passive/कर्मणि)

Speaker

Narada (instructional puranic narration; speaker traditionally aligned with Narada–Sanatkumara discourse style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Puṣkara

FAQs

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

It ranks four blessings as truly hard to obtain—worthy progeny, sacred Puṣkara water, the company of the virtuous (śiṣṭa-satsanga), and genuine bhakti—highlighting that devotion and right association are among the highest spiritual fortunes.

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

By calling bhakti “rare,” the verse implies it arises through great merit and purification—often supported by tīrtha-sevā (holy places like Puṣkara) and śiṣṭa-saṃsarga (satsanga), which cultivate devotion and steady dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharmic discipline through tīrtha-related practice (snāna, pilgrimage observance) and satsanga, which function as applied purāṇic guidance.