Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

Devanagari script

तद्याहि राक्षसत्वं त्वं तदाहारोचितं नृपा । इति शापं ददत्यस्मिन्सौदासो भयविह्वूलः ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

tadyāhi rākṣasatvaṃ tvaṃ tadāhārocitaṃ nṛpā | iti śāpaṃ dadatyasminsaudāso bhayavihvūlaḥ || 27 ||

Translation

「それゆえ、王よ。お前はそのような食物にふさわしい羅刹となるであろう。」このように言い、サウダーサは恐怖に打ちひしがれながら、彼に対してこの呪いを告げた。

Word by Word

• tat: then / so
• tat: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Particle/adverbial use (तत् = ‘then/so’)

• yāhi: go!
• yāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (या धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular

• rākṣasatvam: the state of being a rākṣasa
• rākṣasatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (राक्षस प्रातिपदिक) + -tva (त्व प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); abstract noun ‘state of being a rākṣasa’

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन) सर्वनाम

• tad-āhāra-ucitam: suitable for that diet
• tad-āhāra-ucitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद्) + āhāra (आहार प्रातिपदिक) + ucita (उचित प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound meaning ‘suitable for that food/diet’ (तदर्थ-तत्पुरुष)

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

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (इति अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय)

• śāpam: a curse
• śāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāpa (शाप प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadat: giving/uttering
• dadat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘while giving/uttering’

• asmin: in this (situation/person)
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• saudāsaḥ: Saudāsa (the king)
• saudāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saudāsa (सौदास प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaya-vihvūlaḥ: overwhelmed by fear
• bhaya-vihvūlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (भय प्रातिपदिक) + vihvūla (विह्वूल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘agitated by fear’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator recounting the episode of King Saudāsa)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Saudāsa (Kalmāṣapāda)

FAQs

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

It highlights how fear and disturbed judgment can lead to grave karmic outcomes—here, a curse that drives a fall into rākṣasa-nature and impure conduct.

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

Indirectly, it contrasts the instability of fear-driven action with the steadiness cultivated by devotion; bhakti disciplines the mind so one does not act rashly and incur destructive consequences.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse chiefly illustrates dharma and the ethics of speech (vāg-niyama) rather than a technical Vedāṅga; it warns that improperly used speech—like a curse—can become a powerful, harmful act.