Shloka 21

The Liberation of the Lizard

Godhā-vimukti

Devanagari script

प्रविश्य तं सुतेजस्कामपश्यं ब्रह्यचारिणीम् । प्रावृतां दीर्घवस्त्रेण सन्ध्यारागसवर्णिनीम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

praviśya taṃ sutejaskāmapaśyaṃ brahyacāriṇīm | prāvṛtāṃ dīrghavastreṇa sandhyārāgasavarṇinīm || 21 ||

Translation

Als ich dort eintrat, sah ich ein strahlendes Mädchen, das die Disziplin des Brahmacarya wahrte; in ein langes Gewand gehüllt, war ihr Teint wie das Purpurrot der Abenddämmerung.

Word by Word

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त/अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘प्रवेशं कृत्वा’

• तम्: that (place/palace)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• सु-तेजस्काम्: very radiant
• सु-तेजस्काम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; ‘सुतेजस्काम्’ = ‘सु-तेजस्काम्/सुतेजस्विनीम्’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मचारिणीम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अपश्यम्: I saw
• अपश्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मचारिणीम्: a female celibate/ascetic woman
• ब्रह्मचारिणीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• प्रावृताम्: covered/clad
• प्रावृताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आ-वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मचारिणीम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दीर्घ-वस्त्रेण: with a long garment
• दीर्घ-वस्त्रेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• सन्ध्या-राग-सवर्णिनीम्: having the color of twilight-red
• सन्ध्या-राग-सवर्णिनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + राग (प्रातिपदिक) + सवर्णिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘सन्ध्यारागस्य सवर्णिनी’ इति विग्रहः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मचारिणीम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narrator (a first-person speaker within the Adhyaya; traditionally within Narada Purana’s dialogue frame attributed to Suta recounting the Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the radiance (tejas) born of disciplined living—especially brahmacarya—presenting purity and restraint as inner power that supports sacred encounters in a tirtha-mahatmya setting.

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

While not explicitly naming Vishnu-bhakti, it portrays the prerequisite mood for devotion—self-control, purity, and sattva—through which the devotee becomes fit for holy places, sacred visions, and higher instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The imagery of “sandhyā-rāga” (twilight hue) implicitly connects to sandhyā-time observances central to daily ritual discipline; this aligns with kalpa/prayoga-oriented practice (ritual procedure) rather than technical exposition of a specific Vedanga.