Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

सर्वदोद्यतशस्त्राणां दुष्टसंयमिनां विभो । शास्त्रतोऽशास्त्रतो वापि यस्त्वया शपथः कृतः ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

sarvadodyataśastrāṇāṃ duṣṭasaṃyamināṃ vibho | śāstrato'śāstrato vāpi yastvayā śapathaḥ kṛtaḥ || 5 ||

Translation

Ôi Đấng Tối Thượng! Giữa những kẻ ác dùng bạo lực để chế ngự người khác, luôn sẵn vũ khí—dù thuận theo kinh điển hay trái với kinh điển—bất cứ lời thệ ước nào do Ngài đã lập, xin cho vẫn ràng buộc như pháp.

Word by Word

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kāla (काल/Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• उद्यत-शस्त्राणाम्: of those with weapons raised/ready
• उद्यत-शस्त्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्यत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (उद्यतानि शस्त्राणि = weapons held ready/raised)

• दुष्ट-संयमिनाम्: of wicked self-restrained ones (hypocritical ascetics)
• दुष्ट-संयमिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + संयमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (दुष्टाः संयमिनः = wicked ascetics/disciplinarians)

• विभो: O Lord!
• विभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• शास्त्रतः: scripturally
• शास्त्रतः: Karaṇa/Pramāṇa (करण/प्रमाण—means/authority)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = ‘according to scripture / from scripture’

• अशास्त्रतः: non-scripturally
• अशास्त्रतः: Karaṇa/Pramāṇa (करण/प्रमाण—manner/authority)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ-शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = ‘non-scripturally / contrary to scripture’

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (समुच्चय/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (emphatic/inclusive particle)

• यः: which/that (oath) that
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-यत् (relative pronoun)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता—agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• शपथः: oath
• शपथः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शपथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कृतः: made/taken
• कृतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग: ‘was made’

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual supplication to the Lord within the narrative of Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Vibhu (the Lord)

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes the sanctity and binding force of a solemn oath before the Lord, presenting truthfulness (satya) and the moral weight of one’s vow as a pillar of dharma even amid hostile, violent circumstances.

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

By addressing the Lord as Vibhu and appealing to His moral order, the verse frames devotion as reliance on divine guardianship and integrity—Bhakti expressed through surrender and unwavering commitment to one’s sacred word.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse contrasts śāstrataḥ and aśāstrataḥ, pointing to the practical need for śāstra-vicāra (scriptural discernment) and dharma-nirṇaya—skills supported by Vedanga disciplines such as Vyākaraṇa (precise meaning) and Kalpa (rules of vows and conduct).