Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Gaṅgāmāhātmya

Devanagari script

श्रोतव्यं मुनिभिर्नित्यं दुष्टग्रहनिवारणम् । सर्वरोगप्रशमनमायुर्वर्ध्दनकारणम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

śrotavyaṃ munibhirnityaṃ duṣṭagrahanivāraṇam | sarvarogapraśamanamāyurvardhdanakāraṇam || 4 ||

Translation

এটি মুনিদের নিত্য শ্রবণীয়; এটি দুষ্ট গ্রহের উপদ্রব নিবারণ করে, সকল রোগ প্রশমিত করে এবং আয়ু বৃদ্ধি করে ॥৪॥

Word by Word

• श्रोतव्यम्: should be listened to
• श्रोतव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligative (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; ‘to be heard/should be heard’

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya usage as adverb (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण), ‘always’

• दुष्टग्रहनिवारणम्: warding off evil spirits/afflictions
• दुष्टग्रहनिवारणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/फलवाचक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट + ग्रह + निवारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; समासः दुष्ट-ग्रह-निवारण (तत्पुरुष: ‘removal/warding off of evil ग्रह-s/spirits’)

• सर्वरोगप्रशमनम्: alleviation of all diseases
• सर्वरोगप्रशमनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/फलवाचक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + रोग + प्रशमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; समासः सर्व-रोग-प्रशमन (तत्पुरुष: ‘pacification of all diseases’)

• आयुःवर्धनकारणम्: cause of increasing lifespan
• आयुःवर्धनकारणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/फलवाचक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् + वर्धन + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; समासः आयुः-वर्धन-कारण (तत्पुरुष: ‘cause of increasing lifespan’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Muni

FAQs

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

It elevates śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a protective and purifying practice whose fruit is both inner well-being and outer auspiciousness—removing harmful influences and supporting longevity.

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

By emphasizing “nityaṃ śrotavyam” (constant hearing), it points to bhakti’s foundational limb—listening to sacred narration—through which fear, affliction, and negativity are dissolved by sustained contact with dharmic sound.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa-oriented language (graha, duṣṭa-graha) and the applied idea of graha-śānti—pacifying adverse planetary/seizing influences through sanctioned religious hearing/recitation.