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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 131

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

राक्षसास्तेन सिक्तास्तु सर्षपोपमबिंदुना । विमृज्य राक्षसं भावमभवन्देवतोपमाः ॥ ३१ ॥

rākṣasāstena siktāstu sarṣapopamabiṃdunā | vimṛjya rākṣasaṃ bhāvamabhavandevatopamāḥ || 31 ||

فلما رُشَّ أولئك الرّاكشاسا بتلك القطرة—لا تزيد على حبّة خردل—محَوا طبعهم الشيطاني وصاروا كأنهم من الآلهة.

राक्षसाःdemons
राक्षसाः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootराक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)
तेनby that (with that)
तेन:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formतृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (Pronoun)
सिक्ताःsprinkled
सिक्ताः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
TypeVerb
Root√सिच् (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)
तुindeed, but
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)
सर्षपोपमबिंदुनाwith a drop like a mustard seed
सर्षपोपमबिंदुना:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्षप + उपम + बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); तत्पुरुष: सर्षप-उपमः बिन्दुः (a drop comparable to a mustard seed)
विमृज्यhaving removed
विमृज्य:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeVerb
Rootवि + √मृज् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव: 'having wiped off/removed'
राक्षसम्demonic
राक्षसम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootराक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) भावम् इति
भावम्nature, state
भावम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
अभवन्became
अभवन्:
Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
TypeVerb
Root√भू (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)
देवतोपमाःlike gods
देवतोपमाः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
TypeAdjective
Rootदेवत + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: देवताभिः उपमाः (comparable to gods)

Narada (narrating/teaching within the Purva Bhaga dialogue framework)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

It teaches that even a seemingly tiny measure of sanctifying grace—symbolized by a mustard-seed-sized drop—can cleanse deeply rooted negativity and elevate one’s nature toward the divine.

The verse implies that contact with the sacred (often understood in Purāṇic context as devotion, holy association, or consecrated substance) can rapidly transform the heart, replacing demonic tendencies with godlike qualities—an essential promise of Bhakti.

It reflects applied ritual practice (kalpa/ācāra): sprinkling or consecration (prokṣaṇa) as a purificatory act, emphasizing that correct sacred procedure supports inner purification.