Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

The Origin of the Gaṅgā and the Gods’ Defeat Caused by Bali

Devanagari script

कल्पान्तमेघनिर्घोषाः क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनाः । दंष्ट्रग्रैरसृजन्वह्निंम् सोऽदहत्काननं क्षणात् ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

kalpāntameghanirghoṣāḥ krodhasaṃraktalocanāḥ | daṃṣṭragrairasṛjanvahniṃm so'dahatkānanaṃ kṣaṇāt || 50 ||

Translation

Roaring like the clouds at the end of an aeon, with eyes reddened by wrath, he spewed fire from the tips of his fangs and in an instant burned the forest to ashes.

Word by Word

• कल्पान्त-मेघ-निर्घोषाः: roaring like end-of-aeon clouds
• कल्पान्त-मेघ-निर्घोषाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्पान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः: कल्पान्तमेघनिर्घोषाः = “having a roar like the clouds at the end of an aeon”

• क्रोध-संरक्त-लोचनाः: with eyes reddened by anger
• क्रोध-संरक्त-लोचनाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक) + संरक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः: क्रोधेन संरक्तानि लोचनानि येषाम् (sense: angry-red eyes)

• दंष्ट्र-अग्रैः: with (their) fang-tips
• दंष्ट्र-अग्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) ‘अग्र’ प्रधान; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: दंष्ट्राणाम् अग्रैः = “with the tips of (their) fangs”

• असृजन्: they emitted
• असृजन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; “they emitted/created”

• वह्निम्: fire
• वह्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सः: that (fire)/he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अदहत्: burned
• अदहत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; “burned”

• काननम्: the forest
• काननम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्षणात्: in a moment
• क्षणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; अवधी/कालापादान (time-from)

Speaker

Narada (narrating)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra (anger)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

FAQs

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

It uses kalpānta (end-of-aeon) imagery to show how uncontrolled krodha (wrath) becomes instantly destructive, warning that passion can consume one’s environment and spiritual calm in a moment.

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

By contrasting violent wrath with the ideal bhakti temper—steadiness, compassion, and self-restraint—the verse implicitly points devotees toward cultivating sattva and avoiding anger that obstructs remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga practice is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (restraint of krodha), which supports mantra-japa, ritual focus, and scriptural study without agitation.