Shloka 45

Mohinī-prashna

The Question about Mohinī

Devanagari script

सोऽयमद्य महीपालो यतिधर्म्मे व्यवस्थितः । सुबुद्ध्याचारशीलश्च वेदोक्तं त्यजति द्विजाः ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

so'yamadya mahīpālo yatidharmme vyavasthitaḥ | subuddhyācāraśīlaśca vedoktaṃ tyajati dvijāḥ || 45 ||

Translation

今日此王竟安住于出离者（行者）之戒律；虽具善慧与善行，却舍弃吠陀所教之法——噢，诸二次生者。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; निकटवाचक

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: today/now)

• महीपालः: the king
• महीपालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महेः पालः)

• यति-धर्मे: in the ascetic’s dharma
• यति-धर्मे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यतेः धर्मः)

• व्यवस्थितः: is established/engaged
• व्यवस्थितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + अव + स्था (धातु) → व्यवस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'established/engaged'

• सु-बुद्धि-आचार-शीलः: one of good intellect, conduct, and character
• सु-बुद्धि-आचार-शीलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्यानि सुबुद्धिः आचारः शीलं च सः

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• वेद-उक्तम्: what is enjoined by the Veda
• वेद-उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वेदेन उक्तम् = Veda-enjoined)

• त्यजति: abandons
• त्यजति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे प्रयोगः (contextually vocative-like address)

Speaker

Suta (narrating to the assembled sages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Mahipala (king)
• Dvija (Brahmanas)

FAQs

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

It highlights the tension between outer renunciation (yati-dharma) and fidelity to Vedic injunctions (vedokta), warning that merely adopting ascetic discipline while discarding scriptural duty is spiritually problematic.

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

By implication, it distinguishes authentic spiritual life from performative renunciation; in the Narada Purana’s devotional frame, true bhakti aligns conduct with śāstra and humility, rather than rejecting Vedic guidance out of pride or confusion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to the authority of Vedic injunctions (vidhi) and proper ācāra (conduct), themes closely tied to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharmaśāstra-style application of vedokta duties.