Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

ततो वर्षत्रायान्ते तु गजतानेन सुव्रत । हस्तत्रयमितः खातः कृतस्तत्राधिकं जलम् ॥ ९० ॥

Transliteration

tato varṣatrāyānte tu gajatānena suvrata | hastatrayamitaḥ khātaḥ kṛtastatrādhikaṃ jalam || 90 ||

Translation

そして三年の終わりに、善き誓いを守る者よ、象の鼻で三手（みて）ほどの深さの穴が掘られ、そこに豊かな水が現れた。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence

• varṣa-traya-ante: at the end of three years
• varṣa-traya-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्धारणार्थ—‘of three years’ + ‘at the end’

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात)

• gaja-tānena: by an elephant-measure (as a measure)
• gaja-tānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + tāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष—‘elephant-measure/elephant-span’ (measure)

• suvrata: O virtuous one
• suvrata: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; संबोधन

• hasta-traya-mitaḥ: measured as three cubits
• hasta-traya-mitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक) + mita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; past passive participle (क्त) from √mā (मा, ‘to measure’) used adjectivally; समास: तत्पुरुष—‘measured by three hands’

• khātaḥ: was dug
• khātaḥ: Karma (कर्म) / Kriyā-viśeṣya (क्रियाविशेष्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √khan (खन्, धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; passive sense

• kṛtaḥ: was made
• kṛtaḥ: Karma (कर्म) / Kriyā-viśeṣya (क्रियाविशेष्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ, धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; passive sense

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• adhikam: more/abundant
• adhikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used as adjective to ‘jalam’

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers, traditional dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gaja (elephant)

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purāṇic motif that sacred waters (tīrthas) can manifest through divinely guided events, reinforcing faith in dharma and the sanctity of places connected with vows and auspicious acts.

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

While not explicitly teaching bhakti practices, it supports a bhakti-oriented worldview where divine grace operates tangibly in the world—encouraging श्रद्धा (śraddhā, trust) in sacred narratives and holy places often associated with Viṣṇu-bhakti traditions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No direct Vedāṅga instruction is given; however, the precise measurement “three hands” reflects the broader Vedic habit of ritual-accurate quantification (māna), relevant to kalpa-style procedural thinking.