Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

प्रणनामाथ विप्रेन्द्रं पादसङ्ग्रहणादिना । आतिथ्यं भृगुरप्यस्य चक्रे सन्मानपूर्वकम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

praṇanāmātha viprendraṃ pādasaṅgrahaṇādinā | ātithyaṃ bhṛgurapyasya cakre sanmānapūrvakam || 9 ||

Translation

そのときブリグは、最勝のバラモンに合掌して礼拝し、御足を取るなどの作法をもって深く敬い、しかるべき敬意と尊崇をもって客人としてのもてなしを尽くした。

Word by Word

• praṇanāma: (he) bowed down
• praṇanāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (particle: then/thereupon)

• vipra-indram: the chief of the Brahmins
• vipra-indram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपमानार्थ: ‘विप्राणाम् इन्द्रः’ = best among Brahmins

• pāda-saṅgrahaṇa-ādinā: by (acts) such as holding the feet
• pāda-saṅgrahaṇa-ādinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅgrahaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; समास: ‘पादस्य सङ्ग्रहणम्’ (tatpurusha) + ‘आदि’ (ending with etc.)

• ātithyam: hospitality
• ātithyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātithya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• bhṛguḥ: Bhṛgu
• bhṛguḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: also/even)

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• cakre: did/performed
• cakre: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• sanmāna-pūrvakam: respectfully / with honor
• sanmāna-pūrvakam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + māna (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial): ‘with prior honor/respectfully’

Speaker

Suta (narrator)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhrigu
• Viprendra (foremost Brahmin/guest)

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma through humility and guest-service (ātithya): honoring the worthy with pranāma and respectful reception is presented as a foundational righteous conduct that purifies the mind and supports higher spiritual practice.

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

Bhakti is strengthened by humility and reverence; serving and honoring saintly persons is a practical expression of devotion, training the heart in surrender and respect that later matures into dedicated worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It chiefly reflects kalpa-style dharmic conduct (proper ātithya and satkāra); while not a technical Vedāṅga lesson, it aligns with ritual propriety—how to receive a guest with prescribed gestures of honor.