Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

कन्दर्पसद्दशो रुपे यायजृको विचक्षणः । प्रालेयाद्रिसमो धैर्ये धर्मे धर्मसमो नृपः ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

kandarpasaddaśo rupe yāyajṛko vicakṣaṇaḥ | prāleyādrisamo dhairye dharme dharmasamo nṛpaḥ || 31 ||

Translation

An Schönheit glich er Kāma; bei den Opfern war er ein kundiger Förderer der Yajñas; an Standhaftigkeit dem Himalaya gleich; und an Rechtschaffenheit war jener König dem Dharma selbst ebenbürtig.

Word by Word

• kandarpa-sadṛśaḥ: like Kāma (Cupid)
• kandarpa-sadṛśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kandarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); qualifies nṛpaḥ

• rūpe: in appearance
• rūpe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन (singular)

• yāyajṛkaḥ: a sacrificer / one who performs yajñas
• yāyajṛkaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāyajṛka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); agent-noun (one who performs sacrifices)

• vicakṣaṇaḥ: discerning / wise
• vicakṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies nṛpaḥ

• prāleya-adri-samaḥ: like the snowy mountain
• prāleya-adri-samaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāleya (प्रातिपदिक) + adri (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘sama’ = equal/like; qualifies nṛpaḥ

• dhairye: in courage/steadfastness
• dhairye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhairya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• dharme: in righteousness
• dharme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• dharma-samaḥ: equal to Dharma (the god of righteousness)
• dharma-samaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies nṛpaḥ

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating the account as part of the Purana’s discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kandarpa
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It sets a dharmic ideal for leadership: beauty and power are secondary, while unwavering courage, yajña-support, and strict righteousness are the true marks of a king.

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

By praising yajña and dharma, it points to a life aligned with Vedic duty—an outward discipline that traditionally supports inner devotion to the divine and reverence for sacred order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied through yajña patronage (yāyajūka), reflecting applied Śrauta/Smārta procedure and the administrative support needed for Vedic rites.