Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

तत्रापश्यन्महात्मानं कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभम् । कपिलं ध्याननिरतं वाजिनं च तदन्तिके ॥ ९५ ॥

Transliteration

tatrāpaśyanmahātmānaṃ koṭisūryasamaprabham | kapilaṃ dhyānanirataṃ vājinaṃ ca tadantike || 95 ||

Translation

Allí vio al magnánimo Kapila, resplandeciente como diez millones de soles, absorto en meditación; y cerca de él vio también un caballo.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अपश्यन्: they saw
• अपश्यन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; (पाठे ‘अपश्यन्’ = ‘अपश्यन्/अपश्यन् ते’)

• महात्मानम्: the great-souled one
• महात्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कोटि-सूर्य-सम-प्रभम्: radiant like ten million suns
• कोटि-सूर्य-सम-प्रभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘कोटिसूर्येण समा प्रभा यस्य’ (having radiance equal to ten million suns)

• कपिलम्: Kapila
• कपिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; (ऋषिनाम)

• ध्यान-निरतम्: absorbed in meditation
• ध्यान-निरतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘ध्याने निरतः’ (engaged in meditation)

• वाजिनम्: the horse
• वाजिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्-अन्तिके: near him
• तत्-अन्तिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘तस्य अन्तिके’ (near him/near that [sage])

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kapila

FAQs

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

It highlights the power of tapas and dhyāna: Kapila’s extraordinary radiance symbolizes the inner brilliance born from deep meditation, presenting the rishi as a living embodiment of spiritual attainment.

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

Though the verse centers on meditation, it supports bhakti indirectly: concentrated remembrance and inner absorption are complementary to devotion, showing that spiritual progress requires steadiness of mind and reverence for realized sages.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is yogic discipline—dhyāna as a method of mental restraint (a foundational skill that supports mantra, ritual focus, and scriptural study).