Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

The Origin of the Gaṅgā and the Gods’ Defeat Caused by Bali

Devanagari script

देवतारुपमास्थाय संप्रोचुर्बलिनोदिताः । किमर्थं तप्यते मातः शरीरपरिशोषणम् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

devatārupamāsthāya saṃprocurbalinoditāḥ | kimarthaṃ tapyate mātaḥ śarīrapariśoṣaṇam || 39 ||

Translation

Ayant pris l’apparence des divinités et, poussés par Bali, ils lui dirent : «Pour quelle raison, ô Mère, accomplis-tu une austérité qui dessèche le corps ?»

Word by Word

• देवता-रूपम्: the form of a deity
• देवता-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवतायाः रूपम्)

• आस्थाय: having assumed
• आस्थाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having assumed/taken’

• सम्प्रोचुः: they said/spoke
• सम्प्रोचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-उच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम

• बलिना-उदिताः: urged by Bali
• बलिना-उदिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + उदित (कृदन्त, √उद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (बलिना उदिताः = by Bali prompted/urged)

• किम्-अर्थम्: for what reason? why?
• किम्-अर्थम्: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• तप्यते: is tormented / performs austerity
• तप्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is being tormented / is doing austerity)

• मातः: O mother
• मातः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• शरीर-परिशोषणम्: the wasting/drying of the body
• शरीर-परिशोषणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक) + परि-शोषण (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव, √शुष्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शरीरस्य परिशोषणम्)

Speaker

Devas (speaking, urged by Bali)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights a key dharmic inquiry: austerity (tapas) must have a clear spiritual purpose, not merely physical self-denial; the devas question the intent behind bodily emaciation.

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

Indirectly, it frames that spiritual practice should be intention-led; in bhakti too, disciplines are meaningful when directed toward the Divine (not as empty self-torture).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga is taught in this line; it instead reflects dharma-vicāra (ethical inquiry) about tapas—its motive and proper application.