Shloka 21

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

लुप्तेऽपि वाक्ये भविता नृपेश पापं समं ब्रह्मवधेन घोरम् । तंतासि लोके शमनस्य भूप यशःप्रणाशो भविता धरायाम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

lupte'pi vākye bhavitā nṛpeśa pāpaṃ samaṃ brahmavadhena ghoram | taṃtāsi loke śamanasya bhūpa yaśaḥpraṇāśo bhavitā dharāyām || 21 ||

Translation

اے نرپیش، اگر کہا ہوا قول بھی مٹ جائے یا جھٹلایا جائے تب بھی برہمن کے قتل کے برابر ہولناک گناہ پیدا ہوگا۔ اے بادشاہ، تم دنیا میں یم کے عذاب کے مستحق بنو گے اور زمین پر تمہاری شہرت برباد ہو جائے گی۔

Word by Word

• lupte: when (it is) omitted / lost
• lupte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lupta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from lup/luṇṭ)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (contextually with vākye: नपुंसक), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• api: even if
• api: Discourse marker (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निपात (particle; concessive 'even if')

• vākye: in the statement / command
• vākye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• bhavitā: will be
• bhavitā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु) + bhavitṛ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: लकारः—लृट् (Simple Future), पुरुषः—प्रथम (3rd), वचनम्—एकवचन, पदम्—परस्मैपदम्

• nṛpa-īśa: O lord of kings
• nṛpa-īśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'lord of kings'), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• pāpam: sin
• pāpam: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate noun
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• samam: equal (to)
• samam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; pāpam इति विशेषणम्

• brahma-vadhena: with (the sin of) Brahmin-slaying
• brahma-vadhena: Upamāna/Comparison instrument (उपमान/तुलना-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'killing of a Brahmin'), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; pāpam इति विशेषणम्

• tam: him / that one
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• tāsi: you will incur / you will undergo
• tāsi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tan (धातु) / tā (धातु) (uncertain reading; likely future/2nd sg)
• Form: पाठ-समस्या (textual uncertainty): 'tāsi' appears as 2nd person singular future-like form; intended sense 'you will attain/undergo'.

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• śamanasya: of Yama (the punisher)
• śamanasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śamana (प्रातिपदिक; Yama/Death)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• bhūpa: O king
• bhūpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• yaśaḥ-praṇāśaḥ: loss of fame
• yaśaḥ-praṇāśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक) + praṇāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'destruction of fame'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• bhavitā: will be
• bhavitā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लकारः—लृट् (Simple Future), पुरुषः—प्रथम (3rd), वचनम्—एकवचन, पदम्—परस्मैपदम्

• dharāyām: on the earth
• dharāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching/admonishing a king, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Yama (Shamana)

FAQs

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

The verse warns that moral responsibility is not erased by concealment or denial; grave adharma—especially connected with falsehood or betrayal of a solemn word—ripens into heavy karmic consequence, likened to brahma-hatya, bringing both otherworldly punishment and worldly disgrace.

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

By stressing truth and integrity as essential dharmic foundations, it supports Bhakti indirectly: devotion to Vishnu is sustained by satya (truthfulness) and ethical conduct; hypocrisy and broken vows destroy spiritual credibility and invite karmic suffering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It chiefly reflects Dharmashastra-style application of ethical law (not a technical Vedanga lesson), emphasizing the power of vāk (speech) and accountability for vows/utterances—principles aligned with disciplined use of language central to Vyakarana and the dharmic use of mantra and promise.