Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

शास्त्राण्यध्यापयामास राजयोग्यानि मन्त्रवित् । समर्थं सगरं दृष्ट्वा किंचिदुद्भिन्नशैशवम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

śāstrāṇyadhyāpayāmāsa rājayogyāni mantravit | samarthaṃ sagaraṃ dṛṣṭvā kiṃcidudbhinnaśaiśavam || 13 ||

Translation

Der Kenner heiliger Mantras lehrte ihn daraufhin die Schriften, die zur Königswürde passen; als er Sagara tüchtig sah und seine Kindheit eben erst zu erblühen begann, unterwies er ihn dementsprechend.

Word by Word

• शास्त्राणि: treatises; scriptures
• शास्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अध्यापयामास: taught; caused to study
• अध्यापयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + आप्/आपय् (धातु-णिच् causative of √अधि-इ/अधि-आ-इ?; conventional: √अधि-इ (अध्ये) → अध्यापयति)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative) प्रयोगः

• राज-योग्यानि: fit for kings
• राज-योग्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'राज्ञे योग्य' (fit for a king); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणं शास्त्राणि इति

• मन्त्रवित्: the knower of mantras
• मन्त्रवित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कृदन्त-समासार्थ: 'मन्त्रान् वेत्ति' (knower of mantras); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समर्थम्: capable; competent
• समर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं सगरम् इति

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

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• किंचित्: somewhat; a little
• किंचित्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंचित् (सर्वनाम/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अल्पत्ववाचक (quantifier)

• उद्भिन्न-शैशवम्: whose childhood had just begun to pass; slightly grown up
• उद्भिन्न-शैशवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + भिद् (धातु) → उद्भिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + शैशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: 'उद्भिन्नं शैशवं यस्य' (childhood emerging); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं सगरम् (समर्थम्) इत्यर्थे

Speaker

Narada (narrator) within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Sagara

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic formation: when a student is ready, a qualified mantra-knower transmits the right śāstras, showing that spiritual discipline and worldly governance must be grounded in sacred learning.

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

Bhakti is implied through the role of a mantravit: royal power is meant to be trained under sacred mantra and dharma, orienting kingship toward service, restraint, and reverence for divine order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to mantra-competence and śāstra-training—practically aligning with Vedanga-based learning used in ritual and governance (e.g., correct mantra application and disciplined instruction), even if no single Vedanga is named explicitly.