Shloka 1

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठ उवाच । संध्यावली ततः पादौ भर्तुः संगृह्य भूपते । उवाच वचनं देवी धर्मां गदविनाशनम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

vasiṣṭha uvāca | saṃdhyāvalī tataḥ pādau bhartuḥ saṃgṛhya bhūpate | uvāca vacanaṃ devī dharmāṃ gadavināśanam || 1 ||

Translation

婆悉吒说道：于是，桑迪雅瓦丽啊，国王啊，她抱持夫君之足；那位天女宣说合乎法（Dharma）之言，能摧破忧愁与苦恼。

Word by Word

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• संध्यावली: Saṃdhyāvalī
• संध्यावली: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्यावली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (then/thereupon)

• पादौ: (two) feet
• पादौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• भर्तुः: of (her) husband
• भर्तुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• संगृह्य: having held
• संगृह्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having grasped/held)

• भूपते: O king
• भूपते: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• वचनम्: words, speech
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवी: the goddess/lady
• देवी: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• धर्माम्: righteousness / righteous (speech)
• धर्माम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); (पाठान्तर/अर्थतः) 'धर्म्यां' इव—धर्मयुक्ताम् (righteous)

• गद-विनाशनम्: disease-destroying
• गद-विनाशनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गद (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (destroyer/remover of disease); विशेषण of वचनम्

Speaker

Vasiṣṭha

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Sandhyāvalī

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic humility—clasping the feet of one’s spouse/elder as a gesture of reverence—and the power of righteous speech to remove mental suffering and restore harmony.

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

While not explicitly naming Viṣṇu-bhakti, it models a core bhakti virtue: surrender expressed through humility and respectful conduct, which purifies the heart and prepares one for higher devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse chiefly teaches dharma-nīti (ethical conduct) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it emphasizes disciplined speech (vāṅ-niyama) and respectful ritual etiquette (ācāra) as foundations of religious life.