Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

मया तु तत्र तस्यापि पृष्टं कर्माखिलं नृप । कथितं चित्रगुत्पेन धर्मं सरसिसंभवम् ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

mayā tu tatra tasyāpi pṛṣṭaṃ karmākhilaṃ nṛpa | kathitaṃ citragutpena dharmaṃ sarasisaṃbhavam || 85 ||

Translation

その場で、王よ、私もまた彼にあらゆる行為（カルマ）とその果報について尋ねた。するとチトラグプタは、蓮華より生まれしブラフマーに由来するダルマを私に説き明かした。

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), place

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), inclusion/emphasis

• पृष्टम्: asked
• पृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; ‘asked’ as predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पृच्छ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• कर्म: deed/act
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• अखिलम्: entire/all
• अखिलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with कर्म

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• कथितम्: told/related
• कथितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; ‘told’ as predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• चित्रगुप्तेन: by Chitragupta
• चित्रगुप्तेन: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument ‘by’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रगुप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: चित्र (variegated) + गुप्त (hidden/protected) as name

• धर्मम्: dharma/righteous law
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• सरसि-सम्भवम्: born from/in a lake
• सरसि-सम्भवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरसि (सरस्, प्रातिपदिक; loc.sg) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) with locative first member (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष): ‘arising in/from a lake’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with धर्मम्

Speaker

Narada (narrating to a king)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Chitragupta
• Brahma (Lotus-born)

FAQs

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

It frames dharma as a revealed, orderly principle (linked to Brahmā) and presents karma as fully knowable and accountable—encouraging ethical living with awareness of consequences.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by grounding spiritual life in dharma: devotion becomes steady and fruitful when aligned with righteous conduct and clarity about karma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes systematic classification and explanation of actions (karma) and dharma—akin to the analytical spirit used in Dharmaśāstra and related disciplines, though no single Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is explicitly cited.