Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

तद्बालभावं संदुष्टं ज्ञात्वा बाहुसुतो नृपः । चिन्तयामास विधिवत्पुत्रकर्म विगर्हितम् ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

tadbālabhāvaṃ saṃduṣṭaṃ jñātvā bāhusuto nṛpaḥ | cintayāmāsa vidhivatputrakarma vigarhitam || 71 ||

Translation

Als der König, der Sohn Bāhus, erkannte, dass das Wesen des Kindes verdorben war, sann er pflichtgemäß nach dem Dharma darüber nach, wie er in Bezug auf seinen Sohn handeln solle—obgleich es eine tadelnswerte Angelegenheit war.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बालभावम् इति विशेषणम्

• बालभावम्: childish nature/behavior
• बालभावम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• संदुष्टम्: corrupted/evil
• संदुष्टम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संदुष्ट (कृदन्त; √दुष्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बालभावम् इति विशेषणम्

• ज्ञात्वा: having understood
• ज्ञात्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव — ‘having known’

• बाहुसुतः: son of Bāhu
• बाहुसुतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: कर्ता (Karta/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• चिन्तयामास: reflected/considered
• चिन्तयामास: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect; periphrastic), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• विधिवत्: properly
• विधिवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — विधिना सह/यथाविधि (properly, according to rule)

• पुत्रकर्म: a son’s conduct/deed
• पुत्रकर्म: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विगर्हितम्: blameworthy
• विगर्हितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगर्हित (कृदन्त; √गर्ह्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); पुत्रकर्म इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator voice)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bāhu

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic discernment: even when a situation involves one’s own child, a ruler must reflect on what is proper (vidhivat), acknowledging that some necessary actions may still be morally troubling (vigarhita).

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti-based ethics: devotion to Dharma and to the Lord’s order implies self-control and impartial judgment, placing righteousness above personal attachment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to adherence to vidhi (procedural propriety), aligning with Kalpa/Vedanga (ritual and rule-based conduct) as a general principle of acting according to prescribed norms rather than impulse.