Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43
Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga
तस्य धेनुं जघानोग्रः शार्दूलो विजने वने । ततो राजा हतां ज्ञात्वा धेनुं व्याघ्रेण चर्त्विजः ॥ ४१ ॥
tasya dhenuṃ jaghānograḥ śārdūlo vijane vane | tato rājā hatāṃ jñātvā dhenuṃ vyāghreṇa cartvijaḥ || 41 ||
Dans une forêt déserte, un tigre farouche tua sa vache. Alors le roi et le prêtre officiant, apprenant que la vache avait été mise à mort par le tigre, furent saisis d’une vive inquiétude.
Narada (narrative relay within Moksha-dharma discourse; traditional dialogue framework with Sanatkumara lineage assumed for Book 1.2)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It frames a dharmic crisis—harm to a cow—prompting the king and priest to respond responsibly, illustrating how worldly events become tests of righteousness within Moksha-dharma teaching.
Indirectly: devotion is sustained by dharma—protecting the vulnerable and honoring sacred life—so the narrative sets the ethical ground on which Vishnu-bhakti and liberation-oriented conduct stand.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the presence of the ṛtvij, indicating that correct ritual life must be paired with ethical governance and appropriate expiation/response when harm occurs.