Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 93

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

मृत्तिकां खनितां ते चोदधितीरे समाकिरन् । तद्द्वारेण गताः सर्वे पातालं सगरात्मजाः ॥ ९३ ॥

Transliteration

mṛttikāṃ khanitāṃ te codadhitīre samākiran | taddvāreṇa gatāḥ sarve pātālaṃ sagarātmajāḥ || 93 ||

Translation

彼らは掘り出した土を海辺に積み上げ、そしてその開いた穴を通って、サガラ王の子らは皆、地下界パーターラへと入っていった。

Word by Word

• मृत्तिकाम्: earth, soil
• मृत्तिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• खनिताम्: dug out
• खनिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खन् (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘dug up’ (qualifies मृत्तिकाम्)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उदधि-तीरे: on the ocean shore
• उदधि-तीरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदधि (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘उदधेः तीरे’ (on the shore of the ocean)

• समाकिरन्: they scattered
• समाकिरन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√कॄ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘they scattered/strewn’

• तत्-द्वारेण: through that opening
• तत्-द्वारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘तस्य द्वारेण’ (through that opening/doorway)

• गताः: having gone
• गताः: Kriya (क्रिया/गतिः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used predicatively ‘having gone’

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘all (of them)’

• पातालम्: to Pātāla
• पातालम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सगर-आत्मजाः: Sagara’s sons
• सगर-आत्मजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘सगरस्य आत्मजाः’ (sons of Sagara)

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• Sagaraputras (sons of Sagara)
• Patala

FAQs

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

It highlights how intense worldly pursuit can literally and symbolically drive one “downward” into deeper realms (Pātāla), illustrating karmic momentum and the consequences of forceful, unchecked action.

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

By contrast: the Sagara sons proceed through a self-made opening created by effort and urgency, whereas Bhakti emphasizes surrender and alignment with dharma—seeking the Divine rather than compulsive pursuit of outcomes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, etc.) is taught in this verse; it is primarily an Itihāsa-Purāṇic narrative detail used to frame dharma and karmic consequence.