Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11
Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā
भगीरथ उवाच । भगवन्सर्वधर्मज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । पृच्छामि भवभीतोऽहं नृणामुद्धारकारणम् ॥ ११ ॥
bhagīratha uvāca | bhagavansarvadharmajña sarvaśāstraviśārada | pṛcchāmi bhavabhīto'haṃ nṛṇāmuddhārakāraṇam || 11 ||
Bhagīratha berkata: “Wahai Bhagavan, Engkau mengetahui seluruh dharma dan mahir dalam semua śāstra. Aku, takut akan belenggu saṁsāra, bertanya tentang sebab sejati pembebasan manusia.”
Bhagīratha
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames the core Purāṇic inquiry: a seeker, frightened of saṃsāra, approaches a realized authority in dharma and śāstra to learn the decisive principle that uplifts and liberates human beings.
While bhakti is not named here, the verse establishes the bhakti-like posture of surrender—humbly questioning a “bhagavan” who knows dharma and scripture—setting the stage for teachings where devotion and right practice become the means of upliftment.
The verse highlights śāstra-viśārada—scriptural mastery—implying that correct understanding and application of dharmaśāstra and related disciplines (including Vedāṅga-based interpretation) guide human conduct toward upliftment.