Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

वरं वरय दास्यामि यत्ते मनसि रोचते । मा भैर्भद्रे महाभागे ध्रुवं श्रेयो भविष्यति ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

varaṃ varaya dāsyāmi yatte manasi rocate | mā bhairbhadre mahābhāge dhruvaṃ śreyo bhaviṣyati || 17 ||

Translation

„Wähle eine Gabe; was deinem Herzen gefällt, werde Ich dir gewähren. Fürchte dich nicht, o glückverheißende, hochbegnadete Frau—gewiss wird dir das höchste Heil zuteil.“

Word by Word

• varam: a boon
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (usage), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; object of ‘choose’

• varaya: choose
• varaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada; causative not intended here (simple ‘choose’)

• dāsyāmi: I will give
• dāsyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• yat: whatever (that which)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; correlates with ‘tat’ implied

• te: of you / your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• manasi: in (your) mind
• manasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• rocate: pleases
• rocate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruc (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ātmanepada; impersonal sense ‘is pleasing’

• mā: do not
• mā: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prohibitive particle used with imperative (निषेधार्थ ‘do not’)

• bhaiḥ: fear
• bhaiḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhī (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular; ātmanepada form ‘bheḥ/bhaiḥ’ (Vedic/epic variant)

• bhadre: O auspicious lady
• bhadre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (संबोधन/8), Singular

• mahā-bhāge: O greatly fortunate one
• mahā-bhāge: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (संबोधन/8), Singular; epithet

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (निश्चयार्थ)

• śreyaḥ: welfare / the better good
• śreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd Person, Singular; parasmaipada

Speaker

Unspecified (a boon-granting figure addressing a noble lady in dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It emphasizes divine assurance: when a seeker is guided rightly, fear is removed and the outcome is directed toward śreyas (true spiritual welfare), not merely temporary gain.

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

By offering protection and confidence to the devotee, it reflects a bhakti principle: surrender replaces fear, and the divine response supports the devotee’s ultimate good.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual counsel—choose aims aligned with śreyas rather than impulse or fear.