Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

स बुद्धिसागरो भूपं प्राह धर्मार्थकोविदः । राजन्नियं पुष्करिणी वर्षाजलवती पुरा ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

sa buddhisāgaro bhūpaṃ prāha dharmārthakovidaḥ | rājanniyaṃ puṣkariṇī varṣājalavatī purā || 73 ||

Translation

فقال ذاك المسمّى «بحرَ الحكمة»، العارفَ بالدارما والأرثا، للملك: «يا أيها الملك، في الأزمنة السالفة كانت هذه البركة اللوتسية (بوشكاريني) ممتلئةً بمياه الأمطار».

Word by Word

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

• बुद्धि-सागरः: Buddhisāgara
• बुद्धि-सागरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (proper name): 'बुद्धिः एव सागरः'

• भूपम्: the king
• भूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धर्म-अर्थ-कोविदः: skilled in dharma and polity/wealth
• धर्म-अर्थ-कोविदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद + तत्पुरुष-समासार्थः: 'धर्मे च अर्थे च कोविदः' (skilled in dharma and artha)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• पुष्करिणी: lotus-pond/tank
• पुष्करिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्करिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वर्षा-जल-वती: filled with rainwater
• वर्षा-जल-वती: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: 'वर्षाजलम् अस्याः अस्ति' (possessing rain-water)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly/once)

Speaker

A wise narrator/sage (dharmārthakovidaḥ) addressing the King (bhūpa)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• King (Bhūpa/Rājan)
• Puṣkariṇī (sacred pond)

FAQs

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

It frames a tīrtha-setting: sacred geography is introduced through dharma-artha discourse, implying that a puṣkariṇī’s ancient, rain-filled purity supports meritorious acts like स्नान (ritual bathing) and related dharmic observances.

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

Indirectly: by establishing a sacred place connected with purity and tradition, it prepares the ground for devotional practice—such as tīrtha-snāna, worship, and remembrance—performed with श्रद्धा (faith) as part of lived bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Not a direct Vedāṅga lesson; it reflects dharma-śāstra style instruction (applied dharma/artha) and the purāṇic method of locating rites in a tīrtha context (when/where to perform स्नान and related observances).