Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

एन्द्रा स्त्रं वारुणं ब्राह्ममाग्नेयं सगरो नृपः । तेनैव मुनिनाऽवाप खड्गं वज्रोपमं धनुः ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

endrā straṃ vāruṇaṃ brāhmamāgneyaṃ sagaro nṛpaḥ | tenaiva muninā'vāpa khaḍgaṃ vajropamaṃ dhanuḥ || 31 ||

Translation

ونال الملك ساغارا سلاحَ إندرا، وسلاحَ فارونا، وسلاحَ براهما، وسلاحَ أغني؛ ومن ذلك الناسك نفسه تلقّى أيضاً سيفاً وقوساً يشبه الفَجْرَة (الفَجْرَة/الفَجْرَة: الفَجْرَة=الفَجْرَة vajra) كالصاعقة صلابةً.

Word by Word

• aindram: Indra’s
• aindram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṇ (अण् तद्धित)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; taddhita adjective 'belonging to Indra' (used with astram)

• astram: weapon (missile)
• astram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• vāruṇam: Varuṇa’s
• vāruṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṇ (अण् तद्धित)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; 'of Varuṇa' (with astram understood)

• brāhmam: Brahmā’s
• brāhmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + aṇ (अण् तद्धित)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; 'Brahmā’s / sacred (brahmic)' (with astram understood)

• āgneyam: Agni’s
• āgneyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + aṇ (अण् तद्धित)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; 'of Agni' (with astram understood)

• sagaraḥ: Sagara
• sagaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; apposition to sagaraḥ

• tena: by him/that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• muninā: by the sage
• muninā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• avāpa: obtained
• avāpa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + āp (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), Prathamapuruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• khaḍgam: a sword
• khaḍgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• vajra-upamam: thunderbolt-like
• vajra-upamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa 'like a thunderbolt'; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with dhanuḥ (neuter) in sense though case here as object-qualifier in apposition

• dhanuḥ: a bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (form dhanuḥ used for acc. sg. in -us stems)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Purana’s discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• Indra
• Varuna
• Brahma
• Agni

FAQs

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

The verse presents royal power as disciplined and consecrated—divine weapons (astras) are not mere arms but mantra-governed forces, implying that authority must be aligned with dharma and guided by realized sages.

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

Bhakti is implied indirectly: the king’s success depends on grace and right guidance from a muni, reflecting the Purāṇic principle that divine power is accessed through reverence, surrender, and dharmic conduct rather than mere strength.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The mention of astras points to mantra-application and ritual correctness—areas supported by Vedāṅga disciplines like Śikṣā (proper phonetics of mantras) and Vyākaraṇa (precise formulation), which preserve the efficacy of sacred utterance.