Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

Devanagari script

इत्येवं वादिनी सा तु स्वपत्युश्चापराः क्रियाः । चकार तत्सरस्तीरे मुनिप्रोक्तविधानतः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

ityevaṃ vādinī sā tu svapatyuścāparāḥ kriyāḥ | cakāra tatsarastīre muniproktavidhānataḥ || 72 ||

Translation

Having spoken thus, she then performed the rites for her own husband and the other prescribed observances on the bank of that lake, exactly in accordance with the procedure laid down by the sage.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha/Quotation (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक — quotative particle

• एवम्: in this way
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय — adverb ‘in this manner’

• वादिनी: speaking
• वादिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वद् (धातु) + णिनि (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वदती’ इत्यर्थे — Feminine nominative singular (speaking)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Feminine nominative singular

• तु: then/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपातः — particle ‘but/indeed’

• स्व-पत्युः: of (her) husband
• स्व-पत्युः: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः (स्वः पति:) — Genitive singular (of her own husband)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः — conjunction ‘and’

• अपराः: other
• अपराः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्रियाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम् — Feminine nominative plural (other)

• क्रियाः: rites/actions
• क्रियाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Feminine plural (rites/actions)

• चकार: performed
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्णभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person singular (did/performed)

• तत्-सरस्-तीरे: on the bank of that lake
• तत्-सरस्-तीरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य सरसः तीरम्) — Locative singular (on the bank of that lake)

• मुनि-प्रोक्त-विधानतः: according to the sage’s prescribed rule
• मुनि-प्रोक्त-विधानतः: Hetu/Anusaraṇa (हेतु/अनुसरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रोक्त (प्र + वच् धातु + क्त) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; समासः: मुनिना प्रोक्तं विधानम् — ‘according to the rule spoken by the sage’

Speaker

Suta (narrator)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Muni (sage)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that spiritual efficacy in dharmic rites comes from faithful adherence to the sage-prescribed procedure (vidhāna), especially when performed at a sacred place (tīrtha such as a lake-bank).

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

While not explicitly a bhakti-verse, it supports bhakti in practice by showing devotion expressed as obedient, reverent performance of prescribed sacred duties under a guru/muni’s guidance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure)—the importance of performing kriyā exactly as instructed (muni-prokta-vidhānataḥ), reflecting the Vedāṅga focus on correct rite and method.