Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

इत्याश्वास्य महाबुद्धिस्तया कार्याण्यकारयत् । त्यक्तशोका च सा तन्वी नता प्राह मुनीश्वरम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

ityāśvāsya mahābuddhistayā kāryāṇyakārayat | tyaktaśokā ca sā tanvī natā prāha munīśvaram || 66 ||

Translation

Nachdem er sie so getröstet hatte, ließ der großgesinnte Weise durch sie die nötigen Riten und Pflichten vollziehen. Vom Kummer befreit, verneigte sich die schlanke Frau ehrfürchtig und sprach dann zum erhabenen Muni.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Vakyopapada (वाक्योपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आश्वास्य: having consoled
• आश्वास्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having consoled/encouraged’

• महाबुद्धिः: the great-minded (sage)
• महाबुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महती बुद्धिः यस्य (‘great-intellect’, i.e., the wise one)

• तया: by her
• तया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘by her/with her’

• कार्याणि: tasks; things to be done
• कार्याणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• अकारयत्: made (her) do; caused to be done
• अकारयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): ‘caused (her) to do’

• त्यक्तशोका: having cast off grief
• त्यक्तशोका: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त (कृदन्त from त्यज्) + शोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: त्यक्तः शोकः यस्याḥ (‘she whose grief is abandoned’)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तन्वी: slender (woman)
• तन्वी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तन्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नता: having bowed
• नता: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नत (कृदन्त from नम्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘having bowed’ (state)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘said/spoke’

• मुनीश्वरम्: the lord of sages
• मुनीश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: मुनीनां ईश्वरः (‘lord of sages’)

Speaker

Narrator (Suta-style narrative voice within the Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Munishvara (a great sage)
• Tanvi (a lady, unnamed in this verse)

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic restoration: after receiving wise consolation, one should complete the necessary duties/rites with steadiness, then approach the guru-like sage with humility to receive further instruction.

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

Indirectly, it models the bhakti attitude of śaraṇāgati—letting go of grief and ego, bowing respectfully, and seeking guidance from a realized sage, which is foundational for sustained Vishnu-bhakti in Purāṇic practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to proper performance of prescribed duties (kāryāṇi) under competent guidance—aligned with Kalpa (ritual procedure) and broader dharma-ācāra, though no specific Vedāṅga technique is explicitly named in this verse.