Shloka 65

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

प्राणसंवर्द्धनार्थाय तेषामेवाप्यधोगतिः । भुज्यतां वासरे विष्णोर्हन्यतां गौर्द्विजान्विता ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

prāṇasaṃvarddhanārthāya teṣāmevāpyadhogatiḥ | bhujyatāṃ vāsare viṣṇorhanyatāṃ gaurdvijānvitā || 64 ||

Translation

Dẫu vin cớ “để nuôi dưỡng mạng sống”, đối với hạng người ấy vẫn là con đường sa đọa. Vào ngày thánh của đức Viṣṇu, chỉ nên thọ thực một cách đúng pháp và tiết chế; và việc dâng cúng/liên hệ đến bò nên được cử hành trước sự chứng giám của các bà-la-môn.

Word by Word

• prāṇa-saṃvardhana-arthāya: for the sake of nourishing life
• prāṇa-saṃvardhana-arthāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/purpose-beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃvardhana (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) [artha], Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); multi-member तत्पुरुष: prāṇa-saṃvardhana (षष्ठी) + arthāya (purpose)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय-अव्यय)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि—also/even)

• adhaḥ-gatiḥ: downward course/fall
• adhaḥ-gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhaḥ (अव्यय) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) [gati], Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); अव्ययीभाव (adhaḥ + gati)

• bhujyatām: let it be eaten/consumed
• bhujyatām: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (भुज् धातु)
• Form: Imperative passive (लोट्, कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāsare: on the day
• vāsare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Vishnu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• hanyatām: let (it) be killed
• hanyatām: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (हन् धातु)
• Form: Imperative passive (लोट्, कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• gauḥ: cow
• gauḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of hanyatām in passive: patient-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dvija-anvitā: accompanied by Brahmins
• dvija-anvitā: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तृतीया/सह-भावार्थे तत्पुरुष (dvija + anvita = accompanied by Brahmins); agrees with gauḥ

Speaker

Narada (teaching in Uttara-Bhaga dharma/mahatmya context; traditionally framed within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Viṣṇu-vāsara / Hari-vāsara observance (likely Ekādaśī-related discipline)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Dvija (Brahmanas)
• Gau (Cow)

FAQs

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

It warns that justifying questionable actions as “necessary for survival” still leads to spiritual decline, and it emphasizes disciplined observance on Viṣṇu’s day along with properly witnessed, dharmic ritual conduct.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical discipline: honoring Viṣṇu’s day through regulated eating and righteous ritual behavior, rather than using self-serving excuses that weaken devotion and dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied—observance of a specific sacred day (vāsara) and performing rites with qualified dvijas present as ritual witnesses/participants, reflecting correct ceremonial protocol.