Shloka 66

The Liberation of the Lizard

Godhā-vimukti

Devanagari script

कपोतार्थं स्वमांसानि शिबिना भूभुजा पुरा । प्रदत्तानि वरारोहे श्येनाय क्षुधिताय वै ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

kapotārthaṃ svamāṃsāni śibinā bhūbhujā purā | pradattāni varārohe śyenāya kṣudhitāya vai || 66 ||

Translation

Einst, o schönhüftige Dame, gab König Śibi, der Herrscher der Erde, einem hungrigen Falken Stücke seines eigenen Fleisches, um eine Taube zu schützen.

Word by Word

• कपोत-अर्थम्: for the sake of the pigeon
• कपोत-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोत (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कपोतस्य अर्थः)

• स्व-मांसानि: his own flesh pieces
• स्व-मांसानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वानि मांसानि)

• शिबिना: by (King) Shibi
• शिबिना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिबि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; कर्तृ-करणे (agent)

• भू-भुजा: by the king (earth-protector)
• भू-भुजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज्/भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूमेः भुजः = भूमिपालः)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• प्रदत्तानि: were given
• प्रदत्तानि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘(मांसानि) प्रदत्तानि’

• वर-आरोहे: O fair-hipped one
• वर-आरोहे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आरोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वरः आरोहः यस्याः)

• श्येनाय: to the hawk
• श्येनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्येन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान

• क्षुधिताय: hungry
• क्षुधिताय: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुधित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; ‘श्येनाय’ इति विशेषणम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Śibi
• Kapota (dove)
• Śyena (hawk)

FAQs

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

It presents the dharmic ideal of protecting the helpless even at personal cost, using King Śibi’s self-sacrifice as a model of compassion and unwavering righteousness.

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

Though framed as a dharma narrative, it supports bhakti by showing that true devotion matures into selfless protection and mercy—qualities aligned with serving the Lord through serving living beings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; the takeaway is ethical application (dharma/raja-dharma) rather than grammar, astrology, or ritual procedure.