Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

हिमवद्गिरिमासाद्य पुण्यदेशे मनोहरे । नादेश्वरे महाक्षेत्रे तपस्तेपेऽतिदुश्चरम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

himavadgirimāsādya puṇyadeśe manohare | nādeśvare mahākṣetre tapastepe'tiduścaram || 46 ||

Translation

Als er den Himavat-Berg erreichte, in einer schönen und heiligen Gegend—im großen heiligen Kṣetra von Nādeśvara—vollzog er eine Askese, die überaus schwer zu bestehen war.

Word by Word

• हिमवत्-गिरिम्: the Himavat mountain
• हिमवत्-गिरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् + गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (हिमवान् गिरिः)

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund, ल्यप्); ‘having reached’

• पुण्य-देशे: in a holy place
• पुण्य-देशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case, locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (पुण्यः देशः)

• मनः-हरे: delightful; mind-stealing
• मनः-हरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मनः हरति इति) विशेषण

• नाद-ईश्वरे: at Nādeśvara
• नाद-ईश्वरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नादस्य ईश्वरः) स्थाननाम

• महा-क्षेत्रे: in the great sacred field
• महा-क्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महৎ क्षेत्रम्)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• तेपे: performed (austerities)
• तेपे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अति-दुश्चरम्: very difficult (to perform)
• अति-दुश्चरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुश्चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/उपपद-समासभाव (अत्यन्तं दुश्चरम्) विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Himavat (Himalaya)
• Nādeśvara

FAQs

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

It highlights that intense tapas, when undertaken with resolve in a sanctified kṣetra, becomes a powerful means of inner purification and attainment, emphasizing place (kṣetra) and practice (tapas) together.

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

Though the verse focuses on austerity, it supports Bhakti by showing the disciplined, self-controlled life that steadies the mind—making sustained remembrance and worship possible in a holy setting.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly reflects Kalpa/ritual discipline and Dharmaśāstra-style sādhanā: choosing an authorized sacred kṣetra and undertaking regulated tapas as a structured spiritual practice.