Shloka 22

The Account of Kāṣṭhīlā (Kāṣṭhīlā-ākhyāna) within the Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

यदि तन्नाचरेद्राजा भोजनं हरिवासरे । क्रियतामपरं देवि मरणादधिकं तव ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

yadi tannācaredrājā bhojanaṃ harivāsare | kriyatāmaparaṃ devi maraṇādadhikaṃ tava || 22 ||

Translation

اگر بادشاہ ہری واسر کے دن کھانے سے پرہیز نہ کرے تو اے دیوی کوئی اور تدبیر کرو؛ یہ تمہارے لیے موت سے بھی بڑھ کر ہولناک ہے۔

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तसूचक (conditional conjunction)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• आचरेत्: should do/observe
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative Singular

• भोजनम्: eating/meal
• भोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular

• हरि-वासरे: on Hari’s day (Ekādaśī/Viṣṇu’s day)
• हरि-वासरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: हरेः वासरः); पुल्लिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण) एकवचन; Locative Singular

• क्रियताम्: let (it) be done
• क्रियताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive): ‘let it be done’

• अपरम्: another (thing)
• अपरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular; विशेषणम् (of implied कर्म)

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचन; Vocative Singular

• मरणात्: than death/from death
• मरणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान) एकवचन; Ablative Singular

• अधिकम्: greater/more
• अधिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative Singular; तुलनाबोधक (comparative sense with ablative)

• तव: for you/of you
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी एकवचन; Genitive Singular

Speaker

Narrative dialogue within a vrata-māhātmya context (speaker not explicitly identifiable from this single verse excerpt; likely a devotee/queen addressing Devī within the Ekādaśī/Harivāsara narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Harivāsara (Ekādaśī-related observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Devī
• Rājā

FAQs

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

It elevates Harivāsara (Ekādaśī) observance as a decisive act of dharma: eating on that day is presented as spiritually disastrous, even “worse than death,” emphasizing the sanctity of Vishnu-oriented vows.

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

Bhakti is shown through disciplined restraint for Hari: refusing food on Harivāsara is not mere austerity but a devotional commitment where honoring Vishnu’s day becomes paramount.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-calendar discipline (connected with Jyotiṣa/pañcāṅga timing) is implied: identifying Harivāsara/Ekādaśī correctly and following its food restrictions as part of vrata-vidhi.