Shloka 33

The Description of Mohinī’s Love Episode

Devanagari script

शशांककांतिर्द्दशनस्य पंक्तिर्निगूढगुल्फे जनमोहनार्थम् । आपादशीर्षं किल तत्स्वरूपं संपश्यतच्चारुविशालनेत्र्याः ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

śaśāṃkakāṃtirddaśanasya paṃktirnigūḍhagulphe janamohanārtham | āpādaśīrṣaṃ kila tatsvarūpaṃ saṃpaśyataccāruviśālanetryāḥ || 33 ||

Translation

她的齿列如月光般清辉闪耀；她的踝部又被柔妙地遮掩，仿佛为迷醉世间。自足至顶，他尽见那位大眼可爱的少女之全身妙相。

Word by Word

• śaśāṅka-kāntiḥ: moonlike radiance
• śaśāṅka-kāntiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśāṅka + kānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (Genitive Tatpurusha): ‘शशाङ्कस्य कान्तिः’

• daśanasya: of the teeth
• daśanasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• paṅktiḥ: row/line
• paṅktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṅkti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• nigūḍha-gulphe: in/at (her) hidden ankles
• nigūḍha-gulphe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-gūḍha (कृदन्त/PPP) + gulpha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), द्विवचन (Dual); कर्मधारयः: ‘निगूढौ गुल्फौ यस्याः/यत्र’ (with hidden ankles)

• jana-mohana-artham: for enchanting people
• jana-mohana-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: jana + mohana + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable) रूपेण प्रयुक्तम्; अर्थम्-शब्दः द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.) परन्तु क्रियाविशेषणवत् ‘for the purpose of’ (प्रयोजनार्थे)

• ā-pāda-śīrṣam: from feet to head
• ā-pāda-śīrṣam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā + pāda + śīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् (indeclinable adverbial): ‘from foot to head’

• kila: indeed
• kila: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/reportative ‘indeed/it is said’

• tat-svarūpam: that form/nature
• tat-svarūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: ‘तस्य स्वरूपम्’

• saṃpaśyata: he saw
• saṃpaśyata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + √paś (पश् धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• cāru-viśāla-netryāḥ: of the beautiful large-eyed woman
• cāru-viśāla-netryāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāru + viśāla + netrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः: ‘चारु च सा विशालनेत्री’ (the beautiful, large-eyed woman)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrative voice, as relayed in the Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

FAQs

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

The verse uses rūpa-varṇana (aesthetic description) to show how the mind becomes captivated by outer beauty—an implicit reminder, common in Purāṇic tīrtha narratives, to redirect perception from mere fascination toward sacred meaning and inner discernment.

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

While not directly a bhakti injunction, it contrasts sensory attraction with higher seeing; in bhakti practice, such attention is ideally transferred from worldly charm to the divine form (Viṣṇu-smaraṇa), refining the gaze into devotional contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly demonstrates alaṅkāra-driven poetic narration rather than a Vedāṅga procedure; practically, it reflects disciplined Sanskrit usage (vyākaraṇa-informed compounds like āpāda-śīrṣam, nigūḍha-gulphe) used in Purāṇic composition.