Shloka 11

Yama’s Journey to Brahmaloka

Ekadashi–Dvadashi Mahatmya in the Rukmangada Cycle

Devanagari script

ददघ्वंम विप्रमुख्यभ्यो मज्जध्वं जाह्नवीजले । ममेद वचनं श्रृत्वा राज्यं भुंजीत मामकम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

dadaghvaṃma vipramukhyabhyo majjadhvaṃ jāhnavījale | mameda vacanaṃ śrṛtvā rājyaṃ bhuṃjīta māmakam || 11 ||

Translation

„Gebt Gaben den vornehmsten Brāhmaṇas und taucht ein in die Wasser der Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā). Nachdem er mein Wort vernommen und angenommen hat, soll er mein Reich genießen.“

Word by Word

• dadaghvam: give (you all)
• dadaghvam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Plural; (पाठभेद/लिप्यन्तर-दोष सम्भवः: ददध्वम्)

• vipra-mukhyabhyaḥ: to the foremost Brahmins
• vipra-mukhyabhyaḥ: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: विप्रेषु मुख्याः), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), बहुवचन — Masculine, Dative, Plural

• majjadhvam: bathe/immerse yourselves
• majjadhvam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: majj (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Plural (Ātmanepada)

• jāhnavī-jale: in the waters of the Jahnavi (Ganga)
• jāhnavī-jale: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāhnavī + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: जाह्नव्याः जलम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative, Singular

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Pronoun, Genitive, Singular

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Pronoun, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• vacanam: statement/command
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाल — Absolutive “having heard”

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• bhuñjīta: should enjoy/should rule
• bhuñjīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Optative, 2nd person, Singular (Ātmanepada)

• māmakam: mine / belonging to me
• māmakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; विशेषण of rājyam

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya dialogue; the verse itself is spoken by a king/authority figure within the narrative context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jahnavi (Ganga)
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It links two classic dharmic acts—dāna to worthy Brāhmaṇas and snāna/immersion in the Gaṅgā (Jāhnavī)—as purifying practices that confer religious merit and legitimized prosperity/sovereignty.

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

While not explicitly naming Viṣṇu-bhakti, it supports bhakti-oriented dharma by emphasizing humility, purification at a sacred tirtha, and generous giving—acts traditionally performed as offerings dedicated to the Divine and to dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented dharma) is implied: proper dāna to qualified recipients and prescribed tirtha-snānā as a rite for purification and merit, aligning with smārta-puranic ritual procedure rather than technical vyākaraṇa/śikṣā.