Shloka 23
The Account of Kāṣṭhīlā (Kāṣṭhīlā-ākhyāna) within the Mohinī Narrative
ममापि दुःखदंह्येतद्दैवाज्जल्पाम्यहं शुभे । कस्येष्टमात्महननं कस्येष्टं विषभक्षणम् ॥ २३ ॥
mamāpi duḥkhadaṃhyetaddaivājjalpāmyahaṃ śubhe | kasyeṣṭamātmahananaṃ kasyeṣṭaṃ viṣabhakṣaṇam || 23 ||
یہ بات مجھے بھی دردناک لگتی ہے؛ پھر بھی، اے نیک بانو، تقدیر کے زور سے میں اسے کہتا ہوں۔ کس کو خودکشی پسند ہے؟ کس کو زہر پینا پسند ہے؟
Unspecified narrator/speaker within the Adhyaya (addressing a woman as 'śubhe')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames despair and self-destructive impulses as unnatural to the soul’s welfare, stressing that even painful truths may be spoken when prompted by daiva (destiny), to redirect one toward dharma and life-preserving conduct.
By rejecting self-harm as ‘undesirable,’ the verse implicitly points to choosing life, repentance, and refuge—attitudes that mature into surrender and steadiness, which are foundational for Vishnu-bhakti in Purāṇic teaching.
The verse is primarily ethical (nīti/dharma) rather than technical Vedāṅga instruction; it uses clear rhetorical questioning (vyākaraṇa-informed clarity of expression) to teach a practical takeaway: avoid harmful acts and choose dharmic remedies.