Shloka 26

Kāṣṭhīlā-Ākhyāna: Ratnāvalī’s Return, Co-wife Dharma, and the Phālguna Propitiation

Devanagari script

अनया रक्षिता राजन् राक्षस्याराक्षसात्ततः । तस्मादिमां पूजयस्व सत्कृत्याग्रजसंयुताम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

anayā rakṣitā rājan rākṣasyārākṣasāttataḥ | tasmādimāṃ pūjayasva satkṛtyāgrajasaṃyutām || 26 ||

Translation

اے راجن! اسی عورت نے مجھے اُس راکشسی اور اُس راکشس سے بچایا۔ لہٰذا اس کے بڑے بھائی کے ساتھ اسے عزت و تکریم سے قبول کر کے اس کا احترام کرو۔

Word by Word

• अनया: by her/with this (woman)
• अनया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• रक्षिता: (I was) protected
• रक्षिता: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘protected’

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• राक्षस्या: from the demoness
• राक्षस्या: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• राक्षसात्: from the demon
• राक्षसात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• ततः: thereupon/thereafter
• ततः: Hetu/Anantarya (हेतु/अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (ablatival adverb) / ‘thereupon/from that’

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that reason
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• इमाम्: this (woman)
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• पूजयस्व: worship/honour (you)
• पूजयस्व: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सत्कृत्य: having honoured
• सत्कृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; ‘having honoured/treated well’

• अग्रज-संयुताम्: accompanied by the elder (brother)
• अग्रज-संयुताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्रज (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘अग्रजेन संयुता’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष-समास (with elder brother/elder)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator/speaker addressing the King (rājan) within the Adhyaya’s narrative

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• King (Rājan)
• Rākṣasī
• Rākṣasa
• Elder brother (Agraja)

FAQs

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

It teaches dharma through kṛtajñatā (gratitude): one should honor those who protect and assist, recognizing such protection as a form of divine grace manifesting through people.

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

While not explicitly describing a bhakti practice, it reflects a bhakti-aligned ethic: reverence (pūjā) and respectful service (satkāra) offered to the righteous becomes a devotional attitude that pleases Bhagavān and supports sattvic living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is directly taught; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti for rulers—proper satkāra (honorific reception) and social ethics toward benefactors and their kin.