Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

ते गच्छन्ति धराधाराः शाश्वतं वैष्णवं पदम् । तडागार्द्धफलं राजन्कासारे परिकीर्तितम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

te gacchanti dharādhārāḥ śāśvataṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ padam | taḍāgārddhaphalaṃ rājankāsāre parikīrtitam || 13 ||

Translation

De tels soutiens de la terre (bienfaiteurs) vont à la demeure éternelle de Viṣṇu, l’état vaiṣṇava. Ô Roi, il est proclamé qu’un simple étang (kāsāra) ne donne que la moitié du mérite de la construction d’un véritable réservoir (taḍāga).

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गच्छन्ति: go
• गच्छन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धराधाराः: supporters of the earth (upholders)
• धराधाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धराधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः: धरायाः आधाराः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to पदम्

• वैष्णवम्: of Viṣṇu/Vaiṣṇava
• वैष्णवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to पदम्

• पदम्: abode/state
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• तडागार्धफलम्: half the fruit (merit) of a pond
• तडागार्धफलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग + अर्ध + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: तडागस्य अर्धफलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular)

• कासारे: in a reservoir/pond
• कासारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कासार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन (Singular)

• परिकीर्तितम्: is declared/has been stated
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग-सूचक (describing what is stated)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressed to a King within the narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links loka-saṅgraha (public welfare acts like creating water sources) with Vaiṣṇava destiny, stating that such benefactors attain Viṣṇu’s eternal abode.

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

Bhakti is expressed through dharmic service offered in a Viṣṇu-centered spirit; supporting life through water-giving works is treated as a Vaiṣṇava act that leads toward Viṣṇu’s padam.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual/prayoga-style phala-śruti logic is used—grading puṇya by the scale of a work (taḍāga vs kāsāra), a common dharma-śāstra method for prescribing and prioritizing acts.