Shloka 17

Brahmā’s Discourse to Mohinī

Harivāsara, Desire, and the Satya-Test of Rukmāṅgada

Devanagari script

सुतैस्त्वभ्यंगकरणे पुनर्यौवनसंस्थितैः । षष्ट्यतीतां सुतोऽभ्यंगे नियुञ्जीत विचक्षणः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

sutaistvabhyaṃgakaraṇe punaryauvanasaṃsthitaiḥ | ṣaṣṭyatītāṃ suto'bhyaṃge niyuñjīta vicakṣaṇaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

Kapag ang mga anak na lalaki ay nasa kasagsagan na ng kanilang kabataan, dapat silang magsagawa ng pagmamasahe gamit ang langis. Ang isang matalinong anak ay dapat tumulong sa pagmamasahe sa isang inang lampas na sa animnapung taong gulang.

Word by Word

• सुतैः: by sons
• सुतैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• अभ्यङ्गकरणे: in the act of oil-massage
• अभ्यङ्गकरणे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यङ्ग + करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अभ्यङ्गस्य करणम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• यौवनसंस्थितैः: (sons) established in youth (i.e., young)
• यौवनसंस्थितैः: करणविशेषण (Instrument-qualifier/करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यौवन + संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (यौवने संस्थित = situated in youth), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण ‘सुतैः’

• षष्ट्यतीताम्: (a woman) past sixty (years)
• षष्ट्यतीताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्टि + अतीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्टिं अतीता = having passed sixty), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्त्रीलिङ्ग-शब्दं गृहीत्वा)

• सुतः: a son
• सुतः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अभ्यङ्गे: in massage/oiling
• अभ्यङ्गे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• नियुञ्जीत: should employ/appoint
• नियुञ्जीत: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• विचक्षणः: the discerning one
• विचक्षणः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

Speaker

Narada (teaching traditional household dharma/ācāra)

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 frames physical care of elders—especially one’s mother—as dharma: service (seva) expressed through a purifying daily rite (abhyaṅga), turning family duty into meritorious conduct.

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

While not directly prescribing a bhakti practice, it supports bhakti through seva and humility—serving one’s mother as a sacred obligation that cultivates compassion and selflessness, qualities essential to devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritualized daily conduct (ācāra) aligned with dharma—how a bodily practice like abhyaṅga becomes part of disciplined living; it is closer to kalpa-style practical observance than to grammar or astrology.