Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

Devanagari script

अस्माभिर्भक्षिताः पूर्वं विप्राः कोटिसहस्रशः । नामप्रावरणं विप्र रक्षति त्वां महाभयात् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

asmābhirbhakṣitāḥ pūrvaṃ viprāḥ koṭisahasraśaḥ | nāmaprāvaraṇaṃ vipra rakṣati tvāṃ mahābhayāt || 17 ||

Translation

„Einst haben wir Brahmanen zu Zehntausenden und zu Krores verschlungen. Doch, o Brahmane, der schützende Schleier des göttlichen Namens bewahrt dich vor großer Furcht.“

Word by Word

• अस्माभिः: by us
• अस्माभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृकरण (by us)

• भक्षिताः: were devoured
• भक्षिताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate, passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्षित (कृदन्त; √भक्ष् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) कर्मणि—‘were eaten’ (qualifies विप्राः)

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• विप्राः: brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• कोटि-सहस्रशः: by crores and thousands (in vast numbers)
• कोटि-सहस्रशः: Pramana (प्रमाण/Measure)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्यावाचक-प्रयोगः (adverbial ‘in tens of millions/thousands’); द्विगु-समासः (कोटिसहस्र) + शस् (distributive/iterative)

• नाम-प्रावरणम्: the protective covering of the Name
• नाम-प्रावरणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रावरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘नाम्नः प्रावरणम्’ (covering/armor of the Name)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• रक्षति: protects
• रक्षति: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• महाभयात्: from great fear
• महाभयात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महत् भयम्’; अपादान (ablative: ‘from great fear’)

Speaker

A fearsome being (rākṣasa/ghoulish entity) addressing a brāhmaṇa; within the Narada–Sanatkumāra style discourse, cited as an exemplum on the power of Nāma

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Nāma (Divine Name)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Nāma (the Divine Name) functions like a spiritual “cloak” that shields a devotee from even extreme fear and destructive forces.

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

It highlights Nāma-bhakti—taking refuge in the Lord through sincere remembrance/chanting—as a direct, accessible practice that grants protection and steadiness amid danger.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Vyākaraṇa and Śikṣā in practice: correct articulation and mindful repetition of the sacred Name (nāma-japa) as an effective spiritual discipline.