Shloka 39

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

दुर्लभः जाह्नवीतोयं दुर्लभा जननी क्षितौ । दुर्लभं हि कुले जन्म दुर्लभा वंशजा प्रिया ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

durlabhaḥ jāhnavītoyaṃ durlabhā jananī kṣitau | durlabhaṃ hi kule janma durlabhā vaṃśajā priyā || 39 ||

Translation

Nước của Jāhnavī (sông Hằng) thật hiếm có; người mẹ trên cõi đất cũng hiếm. Hiếm nữa là được sinh trong dòng dõi cao quý, và hiếm thay người vợ yêu dấu xuất thân từ gia tộc tốt lành.

Word by Word

• durlabhaḥ: rare
• durlabhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• jāhnavī-toyam: water of the Ganga
• jāhnavī-toyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāhnavī (प्रातिपदिक) + toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसक), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa ‘jāhnavyāḥ toyam’ (water of the Jāhnavī/Gaṅgā)

• durlabhā: rare
• durlabhā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• jananī: mother
• jananī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jananī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kṣitau: on earth
• kṣitau: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• durlabham: rare
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā vibhakti (Nom/Acc), Ekavacana; here predicative with ‘janma’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta/particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed

• kule: in a family/lineage
• kule: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• janma: birth
• janma: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• durlabhā: rare
• durlabhā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vaṃśa-jā: born in a good lineage
• vaṃśa-jā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + jā (प्रातिपदिक; from √jan)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa ‘vaṃśāt jātā’ (born in a lineage)

• priyā: beloved (wife/dear one)
• priyā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Narada (teaching within Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya narration; traditional dialogue frame with sages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Jahnavi

FAQs

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

It emphasizes four rare blessings—Gaṅgā’s sacred water, a mother, noble birth, and a virtuous spouse—highlighting gratitude, dharma, and the exceptional merit (puṇya) associated with tirthas like the Jāhnavī.

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

By calling Gaṅgā-water “rare,” the verse points to sacred contact that supports purification and steady devotional practice—tirtha-sevā, snāna, and remembrance—helping a devotee orient life’s rare gifts toward Viṣṇu-bhakti and dharmic living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It most directly reflects Dharmaśāstra-oriented practical wisdom: valuing auspicious life-conditions for sādhana (good birth and household supports). No specific technical Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse, though it aligns with ritual culture around tirtha-snānā and purity.