Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

तत्रापश्यत् महारण्ये भृगोराश्रममुत्तमम् । कृष्णसारसमाकीर्णं मातङ्गगणसेवितम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

tatrāpaśyat mahāraṇye bhṛgorāśramamuttamam | kṛṣṇasārasamākīrṇaṃ mātaṅgagaṇasevitam || 3 ||

Translation

There, in the vast forest, he beheld Bhṛgu’s most excellent hermitage, filled with blackbuck deer (kṛṣṇasāra) and frequented by herds of elephants.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb) — ‘there’

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘saw’

• महा-अरण्ये: in the great forest
• महा-अरण्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महत् अरण्यम्) — Locative singular neuter

• भृगोः: of Bhṛgu
• भृगोः: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular masculine

• आश्रमम्: hermitage
• आश्रमम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular masculine

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् — Accusative singular masculine (agreeing with ‘आश्रमम्’)

• कृष्णसार-समाकीर्णम्: filled with blackbucks
• कृष्णसार-समाकीर्णम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्णसार (प्रातिपदिक) + समाकीर्ण (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समास (कृष्णसारैः समाकीर्णम्) — Accusative singular masculine (agreeing with ‘आश्रमम्’)

• मातङ्ग-गण-सेवितम्: frequented/served by herds of elephants
• मातङ्ग-गण-सेवितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समास (मातङ्गगणेन सेवितम्) — Accusative singular masculine (agreeing with ‘आश्रमम्’)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the scene within the Narada Purana’s dialogue framework

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu

FAQs

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

It sanctifies the setting by locating the teaching/narrative in Bhṛgu’s revered āśrama, a space traditionally associated with tapas, purity, and the transmission of dharma and spiritual knowledge.

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

Indirectly: by portraying an ideal sacred environment where sages dwell, it frames later instruction as emerging from a sattvic, protected context—supportive of śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembrance), key supports for bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; it functions as narrative localization (āśrama and vana setting). Practically, it reflects the Vedic āśrama culture that underlies disciplines like kalpa (ritual procedure) and śikṣā (proper recitation) taught in such hermitages.