Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

पुपोष सगरं बालं तन्माता प्रीतिपूर्वकम् । चौलोपवीतकर्माणि तथा चक्रे मुनीश्वरः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

pupoṣa sagaraṃ bālaṃ tanmātā prītipūrvakam | caulopavītakarmāṇi tathā cakre munīśvaraḥ || 12 ||

Translation

Mit großer Zuneigung zog seine Mutter das Kind Sagara liebevoll auf; und der erhabene Weise vollzog ebenso für ihn die Riten der Tonsur (cūḍā/caula) und der Weihe mit dem heiligen Faden (upanayana).

Word by Word

• पुपोष: nourished; brought up
• पुपोष: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पुष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• सगरम्: Sagara
• सगरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• बालम्: (as) a child
• बालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) सगरम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• तत्-माता: his mother
• तत्-माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + माता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'तस्य माता'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• प्रीति-पूर्वकम्: affectionately; with love
• प्रीति-पूर्वकम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• चौल-उपवीत-कर्माणि: the tonsure and sacred-thread rites
• चौल-उपवीत-कर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौल (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवीत (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): 'चौलम् च उपवीतम् च (कर्माणि)'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• चक्रे: performed; did
• चक्रे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मुनीश्वरः: the lord of sages
• मुनीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'मुनीनां ईश्वरः'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sagara

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma through saṃskāras—life-cycle rites that purify and formally introduce a child into Vedic discipline, learning, and responsibility.

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

While not directly preaching bhakti, it establishes the dharmic foundation—purity, discipline, and eligibility for mantra and worship—upon which devotion to Vishnu and other deities is traditionally cultivated.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to kalpa (ritual procedure) through the performance of cūḍākaraṇa and upanayana—structured rites central to Vedic practice and proper observance.