Previous Verse
Next Verse

Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

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

इत्युक्त्वाथर्वविद्भूपं वशिष्टः स्वाश्रमं ययौ । राजापि दुःखसंपन्नो राक्षसीं तानुमाश्रितः ॥ ४६ ॥

ityuktvātharvavidbhūpaṃ vaśiṣṭaḥ svāśramaṃ yayau | rājāpi duḥkhasaṃpanno rākṣasīṃ tānumāśritaḥ || 46 ||

こう言い終えると、アタルヴァ・ヴェーダに通じたヴァシシュタは自らのアーシュラマへ帰った。王もまた悲嘆に沈み、羅刹女のごとき状態(魔性の境地)に陥った。

इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)
उक्त्वाhaving spoken
उक्त्वा:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√वच् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having said)
अथर्व-विद्the knower of Atharva (Veda)
अथर्व-विद्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअथर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अथर्वणः विद् = knower of Atharva/Veda)
भूपम्the king
भूपम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootभूप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
वशिष्टःVasiṣṭha
वशिष्टः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootवशिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
स्व-आश्रमम्his own hermitage
स्व-आश्रमम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootस्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वः आश्रमः)
ययौwent
ययौ:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√या (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
राजाthe king
राजा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootराजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
अपिalso
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (also/even)
दुःख-संपन्नःfilled with sorrow
दुःख-संपन्नः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootदुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + संपन्न (कृदन्त; सम्√पद्/सम्√पन् धातु)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दुःखेन संपन्नः = endowed with sorrow)
राक्षसीम्demonic
राक्षसीम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootराक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (तनुम्)
तनुम्body
तनुम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतनु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
आश्रितःhaving taken refuge in/assumed
आश्रितः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootआ√श्रि (धातु) → आश्रित (कृदन्त)
Formकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (राजा)

Narrator (Purana narrator relaying the episode of Vasiṣṭha and the king)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

V
Vasiṣṭha
A
Atharva Veda
K
King (Bhūpa)

FAQs

It shows the immediate karmic-psychological consequence of unchecked grief: when wise guidance departs, a ruler can slip into a darker, rākṣasī (tamasic) disposition, emphasizing the need for dharma, self-control, and sattva.

While bhakti is not named directly here, the verse frames the problem—sorrow and demonic tendency—against which later Purāṇic instruction commonly prescribes devotion, remembrance, and surrender to Viṣṇu as stabilizing remedies for the mind.

The epithet “atharvavit” highlights Vedic learning—especially Atharva-veda’s association with protective rites and pacificatory measures—implying that disciplined Vedic counsel and right application of sacred knowledge guard one from destructive mental states.