Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 113

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

वारुणं लोकमाप्नोति महीश लवणप्रदः । स्वाश्रमाचारनिरता सर्वभूतहिते रताः ॥ ११३ ॥

Transliteration

vāruṇaṃ lokamāpnoti mahīśa lavaṇapradaḥ | svāśramācāraniratā sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ || 113 ||

Translation

O king, one who gives salt attains the world of Varuṇa. Those devoted to the duties of their own āśrama and engaged in the welfare of all beings also reach auspicious destinies.

Word by Word

• वारुणम्: Varuṇa’s (pertaining to Varuṇa)
• वारुणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘लोकम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• लोकम्: world, realm
• लोकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• महीश: O king (lord of the earth)
• महीश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• लवणप्रदः: the giver of salt
• लवणप्रदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण-प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; लवण + प्रद ‘दाता’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लवणस्य प्रदः = giver of salt)

• स्वाश्रमाचारनिरताः: engaged in the conduct of their own āśrama-duties
• स्वाश्रमाचारनिरताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-आश्रम-आचार-निरत (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + आश्रम + आचार + निरत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘निरत’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally) ‘engaged’; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य आश्रमस्य आचारः तस्मिन् निरताः)

• सर्वभूतहिते: in the welfare of all beings
• सर्वभूतहिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भूत-हित (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + भूत + हित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां भूतानां हितम्)

• रताः: devoted, engaged
• रताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक; √रम् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘delighting/attached’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Varuna

FAQs

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

It teaches the karma-phala principle: even a specific, practical charity like salt-giving (lavaṇa-dāna), when done righteously, yields a defined heavenly attainment—Varuṇa’s realm—while praising steady svadharma and universal benevolence.

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

Though framed as dāna and dharma, it supports bhakti indirectly by emphasizing purity of conduct—faithful āśrama-duties and compassion for all beings—which are foundational virtues that stabilize devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual ethics (dāna-vidhi and its phala) is implied: choosing appropriate gifts and understanding their stated results, a practical dharmic application often systematized in smṛti-style guidance rather than technical Vedāṅga exposition.