Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

शरदुन्दुभिनिध्वानैः सिंहनादैः सिंहनादैः सुरद्विषाम् । भाङ्कारैः स्यन्दनानां च बाणक्रेङ्गारनिःस्वनैः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

śaradundubhinidhvānaiḥ siṃhanādaiḥ siṃhanādaiḥ suradviṣām | bhāṅkāraiḥ syandanānāṃ ca bāṇakreṅgāraniḥsvanaiḥ || 16 ||

Translation

戦場は、戦鼓の轟き、天の神々に敵する者どもの重なる獅子吼、戦車のがたつき、そして矢の荒々しい唸りと鳴り響く音とにより、鳴動した。

Word by Word

• śara-dundubhi-nidhvānaiḥ: with the reverberating sounds of arrow-drums
• śara-dundubhi-nidhvānaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक) + nidhvāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); तत्पुरुष-समासः (determinative: 'with the reverberations/sounds of arrow-drums')

• siṃha-nādaiḥ: with lion-roars
• siṃha-nādaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); तत्पुरुषः ('lion-roars')

• siṃha-nādaiḥ: with lion-roars
• siṃha-nādaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); पुनरुक्ति (repetition in text)

• sura-dviṣām: of the god-haters (demons)
• sura-dviṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + dviṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ('haters of the gods')

• bhāṅkāraiḥ: with clangings/booming cries
• bhāṅkāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• syandanānām: of chariots
• syandanānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: syandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• bāṇa-kreṅgāra-niḥsvanaiḥ: with the whistling sounds of arrows
• bāṇa-kreṅgāra-niḥsvanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kreṅgāra (प्रातिपदिक) + niḥsvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); तत्पुरुष-समासः ('with the whistling/creaking sounds of arrows')

Speaker

Suta (narrator)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Characters & Entities

• Suras (gods)
• Asuras (enemies of the gods)

FAQs

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

The verse uses vivid battlefield sound imagery to portray the intensity of dharmic conflict—symbolizing how adharma can be loud and forceful, yet is ultimately confronted within the cosmic order upheld by the devas.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti practices, the verse sets a narrative backdrop where divine order is defended; in Purāṇic framing, such scenes encourage reliance on the divine (Vishnu-centered protection in broader context) when confronted by overwhelming forces.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga instruction is given in this verse; it is primarily alaṅkāra-rich narration (sound imagery) used to heighten the Purāṇic account rather than to teach vyākaraṇa, jyotiṣa, or kalpa directly.