Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

Devanagari script

आसीद्र विकुले जातो बाहुर्नाम वृकात्मजः । बुभुजे पृथिवीं सर्वां धर्मतो धर्मतत्परः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

āsīdra vikule jāto bāhurnāma vṛkātmajaḥ | bubhuje pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ dharmato dharmatatparaḥ || 3 ||

Translation

Im Geschlecht Vikus wurde Bāhu geboren, der Sohn Vṛkas. Dem Dharma ergeben, herrschte und genoss er die ganze Erde gemäß der Rechtschaffenheit.

Word by Word

• आसीत्: there was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• विकुले: in the Vikula lineage
• विकुले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular; 'in the Vikula (lineage)' (proper name used as place/lineage-locative)

• जातः: born
• जातः: Karta (कर्ता; patient-subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicative with implied subject 'बाहुः'

• बाहुः: Bāhu
• बाहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: Naming particle (नाम-निपात)

• वृक-आत्मजः: son of Vṛka
• वृक-आत्मजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'son of Vṛka'

• बुभुजे: ruled; enjoyed
• बुभुजे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada; 'enjoyed/ruled'

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वाम्: entire
• सर्वाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'पृथिवीम्'

• धर्मतः: righteously; according to dharma
• धर्मतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-अव्ययीभाव/अव्ययीभूत); manner: 'according to dharma'

• धर्म-तत्परः: devoted to righteousness
• धर्म-तत्परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective of 'बाहुः' meaning 'devoted to dharma'

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Viku
• Vṛka
• Bāhu
• Pṛthivī
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It presents the ideal of rajadharma: worldly sovereignty becomes spiritually valid when exercised strictly in alignment with Dharma.

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

By emphasizing dharma-tatparatā (single-minded commitment to righteousness), it frames devotion as lived discipline—governing, enjoying, and acting as an offering aligned with sacred order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical application—following dharmic norms in leadership and conduct.