Shloka 18

Kāṣṭhīlā-Ākhyāna: Ratnāvalī’s Return, Co-wife Dharma, and the Phālguna Propitiation

Devanagari script

उदकूकृत्वा शिरस्ताताधौतांघ्रिर्मंचकोपरि । चिंतयत्नी भर्तृयोगं निशीथे रक्षसा हृता ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

udakūkṛtvā śirastātādhautāṃghrirmaṃcakopari | ciṃtayatnī bhartṛyogaṃ niśīthe rakṣasā hṛtā || 18 ||

Translation

她把水罐置于枕旁，洗净双足，躺在榻上，心念与夫君相会；夜半时分，却被一名罗刹掳走。

Word by Word

• उदकू: water
• उदकू: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कृत्वा इत्यनेन सह कर्म (object of gerund)

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभावः; धातुः—कृ (to do/make)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); अत्र समासाङ्गत्वेन (as compound member)

• तात: father/dear (vocative-like)
• तात: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा/सम्बोधन (Nom/Voc), एकवचन; अत्र समासाङ्गत्वेन (as compound member)

• आधौत-अङ्घ्रिः: she whose feet were washed
• आधौत-अङ्घ्रिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + धाव् (धातु) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः—आधौतौ अङ्घ्री यस्याः सा (she whose feet are washed)

• मञ्चक-उपरि: upon the couch
• मञ्चक-उपरि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक) + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: उपरि—अव्यय (adverb/postposition) ‘on’; मञ्चक—सम्बन्ध-निर्देशक (governing noun)

• चिन्तयन्ती: thinking
• चिन्तयन्ती: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातुः—चिन्त् (to think)

• भर्तृयोगम्: union with (my) husband
• भर्तृयोगम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—भर्तुः योगः (union with husband)

• निशीथे: at midnight
• निशीथे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशीथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्षसा: by a demon
• रक्षसा: करण/कर्ता (Agent in passive; Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• हृता: abducted
• हृता: क्रिया-फल/अवस्था (Predicate in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातुः—हृ (to take away/abduct)

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers in the Uttara-Bhaga mahatmya narrative flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Rakshasa
• Bhartṛ (husband)

FAQs

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

It contrasts personal, domestic purity and longing with sudden danger, underscoring that worldly security is fragile and that one should seek dharmic protection and refuge in sacred discipline.

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

Bhakti is implied through mindful recollection and inner focus (cintana); the verse sets up the need for taking shelter in divine protection when worldly supports fail.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects basic ritual purity conduct (washing feet before resting) aligned with dharmic practice; no specific technical Vedanga (like Jyotisha or Vyakarana) is explicitly taught in this line.