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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

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

मासे तत्र तु संप्रात्पं हस्तं खात्वा जलं नृप । ततस्तस्योपदेशेन मन्त्रिणो नृपते त्वया ॥ ९२ ॥

māse tatra tu saṃprātpaṃ hastaṃ khātvā jalaṃ nṛpa | tatastasyopadeśena mantriṇo nṛpate tvayā || 92 ||

Nachdem dort ein Monat vergangen war, o König, gewann man Wasser, indem man mit der Hand grub. Dann, auf seine Weisung hin, o Herr der Könige, beriefst/ernanntest du Minister.

māsein (one) month
māse:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootmāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular
tatrathere
tatra:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottatra (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, adverb of place
tuthen/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, particle
saṃprāptamwas obtained/was reached
saṃprāptam:
Kriyā (क्रिया) / Bhāva (भाव)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-√prāp (प्राप्, धातु)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ‘obtained/arrived’ (agreeing with implied ‘jalam’ or event)
hastama cubit (measure)
hastam:
Karma (कर्म) (measure extent)
TypeNoun
Roothasta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; measure ‘a cubit/hand’
khātvāhaving dug
khātvā:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√khan (खन्, धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having dug’
jalamwater
jalam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootjala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
nṛpaO king
nṛpa:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootnṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular
tataḥthen
tataḥ:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
FormAvyaya, adverb ‘then/thereafter’
tasyaof him/of that
tasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun
upadeśenaby (his) instruction
upadeśena:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootupadeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular
mantriṇaḥof the minister
mantriṇaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootmantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (or Nominative plural by form); context favors Genitive singular ‘of the minister’
nṛpateO king
nṛpate:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootnṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular
tvayāby you
tvayā:
Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-in-passive (कर्तृकरण)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormSecond-person pronoun, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

Narada (narrating to a king)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

It emphasizes that even basic survival and success (like obtaining water) can follow perseverance and right action, and that a ruler should act according to sound instruction (upadeśa) rather than impulse.

Bhakti is not explicitly taught here; however, the verse supports a bhakti-aligned ethic of humility and receptivity to guidance—qualities that also underpin obedient service to the divine and to realized teachers.

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is directly referenced; the practical takeaway is governance discipline—taking counsel and organizing ministers in line with dharmic instruction.