Shloka 35
Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode
किं फलं भविता तुभ्यं हत्वा धर्मांगदं सुतम् । भोजयित्वा दिने विष्णोः को लाभो भविता वद ॥ ३५ ॥
kiṃ phalaṃ bhavitā tubhyaṃ hatvā dharmāṃgadaṃ sutam | bhojayitvā dine viṣṇoḥ ko lābho bhavitā vada || 35 ||
“Nàng sẽ được kết quả gì khi giết con trai mình là Dharmāṅgada? Và sau khi bố thí thức ăn vào ngày thiêng của Viṣṇu, sẽ có lợi lộc gì—hãy nói cho ta biết.”
Unspecified interlocutor (a reproaching adviser/elder addressing a would-be killer; dialogue context within Narada Purana narrative)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It contrasts outward religiosity (feeding on Viṣṇu’s sacred day) with a grave sin (killing one’s own son), teaching that dharma must be consistent—devotional merit cannot meaningfully coexist with extreme adharma.
It implies that true Viṣṇu-bhakti is inseparable from compassion and restraint; acts done “for Viṣṇu” (like bhojana-dāna on a holy day) lose their spiritual integrity when paired with cruelty.
It reflects ritual-dharma practice around a specific sacred day of Viṣṇu (vrata/observance and feeding as dāna), emphasizing correct application of dharma rather than a technical Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.