Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

शशास पृथिवीं मेतां सत्पद्वीपां ससागराम् । सर्वधर्मरतो नित्यं सत्यसंधः प्रतापवान् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

śaśāsa pṛthivīṃ metāṃ satpadvīpāṃ sasāgarām | sarvadharmarato nityaṃ satyasaṃdhaḥ pratāpavān || 30 ||

Translation

Er herrschte über diese Erde selbst—mitsamt ihren edlen Kontinenten und den sie umgebenden Ozeanen—stets allen Formen des Dharma ergeben, in der Wahrheit standhaft und im Heldenmut strahlend.

Word by Word

• śaśāsa: ruled / governed
• śaśāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śās (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• pṛthivīm: the earth
• pṛthivīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (singular)

• mā: my
• mā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (singular); enclitic form

• etām: this
• etām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of pṛthivīm

• sat-padvīpām: having good/holy islands (continents)
• sat-padvīpām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + padvīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of pṛthivīm

• sa-sāgarām: with oceans
• sa-sāgarām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह-प्रातिपदिक) + sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (singular); ‘with oceans’ as qualifier of pṛthivīm

• sarva-dharma-rataḥ: devoted to all dharmas
• sarva-dharma-rataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular); ‘rata’ = past participial adjective; qualifies implied subject (rājā)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• satya-saṃdhaḥ: true to his promise / of truthful resolve
• satya-saṃdhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); qualifies subject

• pratāpavān: mighty / glorious
• pratāpavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratāpa-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); वत्-प्रत्यय (possessive suffix)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the righteous ruler/king in the ongoing narrative (as transmitted in Purāṇic dialogue).

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It presents the ideal of dharma-centered rulership: governing the world as a sacred trust, grounded in satya (truth) and consistent commitment to righteous conduct.

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

Indirectly, it shows that devotion is not only ritual worship but also steadfast ethical living—remaining devoted to dharma in every duty, especially in public responsibility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes applied dharma (smṛti-nīti/rajadharma) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; the takeaway is disciplined adherence to truth and duty as the practical foundation of righteous action.