Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Gaṅgāmāhātmya

Devanagari script

धर्मार्थकामरूपाणां फलरुपे निरञ्जने । सर्वलोकानुग्रहार्थं प्रवर्तेते महोत्तमे ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

dharmārthakāmarūpāṇāṃ phalarupe nirañjane | sarvalokānugrahārthaṃ pravartete mahottame || 65 ||

Translation

おお、垢なき至上者よ――たとえ果がダルマ・アルタ・カーマの姿として現れようとも、究竟には一切世界を憐れみ、利益し高めるためにこそ起こるのである、最も勝れた御方よ。

Word by Word

• धर्म-अर्थ-काम-रूपाणाम्: of the forms of dharma, artha and kāma
• धर्म-अर्थ-काम-रूपाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘of the forms of dharma, artha, kāma’

• फल-रूपे: in the form of a result
• फल-रूपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘in the form of fruit/result’

• निरञ्जने: O Niranjana (spotless one)
• निरञ्जने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — vocative/locative form used in संबोधन (address) to ‘O Niranjana (spotless one)’

• सर्व-लोक-अनुग्रह-अर्थम्: for the welfare (grace) of all worlds
• सर्व-लोक-अनुग्रह-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya) — अर्थम्-प्रत्ययान्त (ending in ‘artham’) expressing purpose: ‘for the sake of …’

• प्रवर्तेते: they proceed / are set in motion
• प्रवर्तेते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual); आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• महोत्तमे: O best among the great
• महोत्तमे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) — used as संबोधन (address): ‘O best of the great’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada / the Supreme as 'nirañjana')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It reframes worldly aims (dharma, artha, kāma) as subordinate “fruits” that ultimately function under the stainless Supreme principle for the grace and welfare of all beings.

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

By calling the Supreme “nirañjana” and stressing universal anugraha, it implies that devotion purifies motives: even desired results become offerings aligned with divine welfare rather than egoic gain.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is the dharmic orientation of action—seeking fruits while keeping the higher purpose (anugraha) in view.