Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

कृतातिथ्यक्रियो राजा भृगुणा परमर्षिणा । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा विनयान्मुनिपुङ्गवम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

kṛtātithyakriyo rājā bhṛguṇā paramarṣiṇā | uvāca prāñjalirbhūtvā vinayānmunipuṅgavam || 10 ||

Translation

Nachdem der König die Gastfreundschaftsriten für den erhabenen ṛṣi Bhṛgu ordnungsgemäß vollzogen hatte, stand er mit gefalteten Händen da und sprach in Demut und Ehrfurcht zu jenem Besten der Weisen.

Word by Word

• kṛta-ātithya-kriyaḥ: having performed the rites of hospitality
• kṛta-ātithya-kriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ) + ātithya (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समास: ‘ātithyasya kriyā’ (tatpuruṣa) + ‘kṛtā ātithyakriyā yena’ (kṛta- as past participle used adjectivally)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• bhṛguṇā: by Bhṛgu
• bhṛguṇā: Sahakāraka/Hetu (सह/हेतु; agent-instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• parama-ṛṣiṇā: by the supreme sage
• parama-ṛṣiṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘परमः ऋषिः’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded hands
• prāñjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘hands joined’

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having become’

• vinayāt: out of humility
• vinayāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vinaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (from/through humility)

• muni-puṅgavam: the foremost sage
• muni-puṅgavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मुनीनाम् पुṅgavaḥ’ = best of sages

Speaker

The king (addressing Sage Bhṛgu)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu
• King

FAQs

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

The verse highlights atithi-dharma—serving a realized sage with proper hospitality—as a foundational act of dharma that purifies the king and prepares him to receive higher spiritual instruction.

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

While not directly naming Vishnu-bhakti, it shows a key bhakti principle: reverent service (seva) and humility before saints, which is a gateway to receiving sacred teachings and cultivating devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to practical ritual conduct—atithya-kriya (guest-hospitality rites) and respectful etiquette (prāñjali)—aligned with dharma-shastra style observances rather than a specific Vedanga like Jyotisha or Vyakarana.