Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

असमंजास्तु कर्माणि चकारोन्मत्तचेष्टितः । तं दृष्ट्वा सागराः सर्वे ह्यासन्दुर्वृत्तचेतसः ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

asamaṃjāstu karmāṇi cakāronmattaceṣṭitaḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā sāgarāḥ sarve hyāsandurvṛttacetasaḥ || 70 ||

Translation

أما أَسَمَنْجَس فقد أتى أفعالًا مُخزية، يتصرف كالمجنون. فلما رآه أبناءُ سَغَرا جميعًا صاروا ذوي نياتٍ فاسدة.

Word by Word

• असमंजाः: Asamañja
• असमंजाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असमंज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle) — विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• कर्माणि: deeds/acts
• कर्माणि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• चकार: did
• चकार: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• उन्मत्तचेष्टितः: acting like a madman
• उन्मत्तचेष्टितः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्मत्त + चेष्टित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); असमंजाः इति विशेषणम्

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव — ‘having seen’

• सागराः: the Sāgaras (princes)
• सागराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); सागराः इति विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — अवधारण (indeed)

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• दुर्वृत्तचेतसः: of wicked disposition
• दुर्वृत्तचेतसः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्वृत्त + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); सागराः इति विशेषणम्; बहुव्रीहिः—‘येषां चेतः दुर्वृत्तम्’

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana account)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Asamanjas
• Sagara

FAQs

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

It highlights how adharma expressed through uncontrolled, “mad” behavior corrupts the mind and can influence an entire lineage, reinforcing the Purāṇic theme that inner character (cetas) shapes destiny.

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

Indirectly, it contrasts devotion’s disciplining power with unruly conduct: bhakti is sustained by sāttvika behavior and self-restraint, whereas durvṛtta-cetas (corrupted intention) pulls one away from dharma and thus from steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught here; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (ācāra) and mindful association—foundational supports for all śāstric study, ritual correctness, and spiritual practice.