Shloka 14

Mohinī-ākhyāna: The Trial of Ekādaśī and the King’s Satya-saṅkalpa

Devanagari script

अभक्ष्य भक्षणं पापं परदाराभिमर्शनम् । एकादश्यां भोजनं च पतनस्यैव कारणम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

abhakṣya bhakṣaṇaṃ pāpaṃ paradārābhimarśanam | ekādaśyāṃ bhojanaṃ ca patanasyaiva kāraṇam || 14 ||

Translation

حرام و ممنوع چیز کا کھانا بڑا گناہ ہے، اور پرائی عورت کے قریب جانا بھی گناہ ہے۔ اسی طرح ایکادشی کے دن کھانا خود روحانی زوال کا سبب ہے۔

Word by Word

• अभक्ष्य: forbidden (food)
• अभक्ष्य: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; 'uneatable/forbidden food' (as a category)

• भक्षणम्: eating
• भक्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Pradhāna (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; predicate nominative

• परदार: another's wife
• परदार: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'of another' + 'wife'; compound stem used in next member

• अभिमर्शनम्: touching/approaching (sexually)
• अभिमर्शनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिमर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• एकादश्याम्: on Ekādaśī
• एकादश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; locative of time

• भोजनम्: eating/meal
• भोजनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

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

• पतनस्य: of downfall
• पतनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Pradhāna (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; predicate nominative

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Uttara-Bhaga discourse on vrata-dharma)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekadashi

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It classifies specific actions—eating prohibited foods, violating marital ethics, and eating on Ekādaśī—as direct causes of patana (spiritual decline), emphasizing purity and restraint as foundations of dharma.

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

By warning against Ekādaśī-bhojana, it reinforces Ekādaśī as a Vishnu-oriented vrata where self-control protects devotion; breaking the vow weakens bhakti and invites degradation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual discipline) and basic tithi-based vrata practice: Ekādaśī is a lunar day requiring specific niyamas, especially avoidance of food, to maintain ritual and devotional integrity.