Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

किमर्थमागतौ भीमौ युवां मत्स्थानमीप्सितम् । ईदृशौ केन पापेन जातौ मे ब्रुवतां ध्रुवम् ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

kimarthamāgatau bhīmau yuvāṃ matsthānamīpsitam | īdṛśau kena pāpena jātau me bruvatāṃ dhruvam || 73 ||

Translation

«لأيِّ غايةٍ جئتما أنتما الاثنان، وهما بهيئةٍ مُروِّعة، تطلبان مقامي؟ وبأيِّ ذنبٍ وُلِدتما على هذه الحال؟ قولا لي الحقَّ يقينًا.»

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun used adverbially with अर्थम्

• अर्थम्: purpose/reason
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; with किम् = किमर्थम् (for what reason)

• आगतौ: (you two) have come
• आगतौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; used predicatively with युवाम्/भीमौ

• भीमौ: O two terrible ones
• भीमौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; संबोधनार्थे/विशेष्यरूपे (addressing/qualifying the two)

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; 2nd person pronoun; used as subject in sense with participle आगतौ (accusative for address/you two)

• मत्-स्थानम्: my abode/place
• मत्-स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'my place'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ईप्सितम्: desired/sought
• ईप्सितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईप्सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifies मत्स्थानम्

• ईदृशौ: such (as you two)
• ईदृशौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; qualifies युवाम्/भीमौ

• केन: by what/with what
• केन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• पापेन: by (what) sin
• पापेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrument/cause

• जातौ: (you two) were born/became
• जातौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; predicative: 'born/come to be'

• मे: to me/of me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; enclitic pronoun

• ब्रुवताम्: (you two) speaking / tell
• ब्रुवताम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; used as imperative-like: 'of you two who speak' = 'tell (me), you two'

• ध्रुवम्: certainly/indeed
• ध्रुवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb)

Speaker

Narada (addressing two fearsome beings/visitors)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse highlights karmic causality: outward suffering or fearful embodiment is traced to prior pāpa, and spiritual progress begins with honest inquiry and truthful disclosure.

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

Indirectly, it sets the groundwork for bhakti by insisting on truthfulness and moral accountability—recognizing one’s karmic condition is a prerequisite to seeking refuge and purification through devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway aligns with dharma-śāstric ethics—satya (truthful speech) and karmic reflection as the basis for corrective practice.