Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Hanūmaccarita

The Account of Hanumān

Devanagari script

अकल्पयं भ्रातृभार्यासहितश्च त्रिवत्सरम् । ततस्त्रयोदशे वर्षे रावणो नाम राक्षसः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

akalpayaṃ bhrātṛbhāryāsahitaśca trivatsaram | tatastrayodaśe varṣe rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ || 21 ||

Translation

J’ordonnai ces choses durant trois ans, avec l’épouse de mon frère. Puis, la treizième année, parut un rākṣasa nommé Rāvaṇa.

Word by Word

• अकल्पयम्: I spent/managed
• अकल्पयम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘I arranged/managed/spent’

• भ्रातृ-भार्या-सहितः: together with (my) brother’s wife
• भ्रातृ-भार्या-सहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक) + सहित (कृदन्त; √सह् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (क्त) ‘सहित’ = accompanied by; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः (भ्रातुः भार्या)

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

• त्रि-वत्सरम्: three years
• त्रि-वत्सरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रयः वत्सराः) = for three years

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदर्थ-क्रियाविशेषण (thereafter/from there)

• त्रयोदशे: in the thirteenth
• त्रयोदशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयोदश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगानुसार; सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (in the thirteenth)

• वर्षे: year
• वर्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• रावणः: Rāvaṇa
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः (indeclinable; ‘by name’)

• राक्षसः: the demon
• राक्षसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; रावणस्य विशेषण-रूपेण

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Characters & Entities

• Ravana

FAQs

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

The verse highlights kāla (time) and karmic unfolding: events mature over defined periods, and powerful antagonistic forces like Rāvaṇa arise when conditions ripen—signaling that dharma must be upheld with vigilance and patience.

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

Indirectly, it sets the narrative stage where demonic opposition (Rāvaṇa) becomes a catalyst for turning toward divine refuge; in Purāṇic storytelling, such encounters push seekers toward steadfast reliance on Bhagavān and dharmic conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes precise time-reckoning and chronological markers (years and counts), aligning with Vedāṅga concerns around orderly enumeration and calendrical awareness used in ritual and narrative reckoning (kāla-nirdeśa).