Shloka 48

Brahmā’s Discourse to Mohinī

Harivāsara, Desire, and the Satya-Test of Rukmāṅgada

Devanagari script

यः क्षांत्या धरया तुल्यो गांभीर्ये सांगरोपमः । तेजसा वह्निवद्द्वीप्तः क्रोधे वैवस्वतोपमः ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ kṣāṃtyā dharayā tulyo gāṃbhīrye sāṃgaropamaḥ | tejasā vahnivaddvīptaḥ krodhe vaivasvatopamaḥ || 48 ||

Translation

忍耐は大地のごとく、深みは大海のごとく、光輝は火のように燃え、ひとたび怒ればヴァイヴァスヴァタ（ヤマ）のごとく厳しかった。

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (कर्तृकारक/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• क्षान्त्या: in patience
• क्षान्त्या: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Respect)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचनम्; उपमेय-गुण-निर्देशे ‘in/with patience’

• धरया: with the earth
• धरया: उपमान (Comparand)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपमान (earth)

• तुल्यः: equal/like
• तुल्यः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपमा-विशेषणम्

• गाम्भीर्ये: in profundity
• गाम्भीर्ये: अधिकरण (Respect/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाम्भीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; ‘in depth/gravitas’

• सागर-उपमः: like the ocean
• सागर-उपमः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सागरस्य उपमः)

• तेजसा: by brilliance
• तेजसा: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Respect)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘by/with brilliance’

• वह्नि-वत्: like fire
• वह्नि-वत्: उपमान-निर्देशक (Comparator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; उपमा-सूचकं ‘-वत्’ (like)

• दीप्तः: blazing
• दीप्तः: क्रिया-विशेषण/भाव (Predicative to subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दीप् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकालिक-कृदन्तः (Past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘shone/blazed’

• क्रोधे: in anger
• क्रोधे: अधिकरण (Respect/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘in anger’

• वैवस्वत-उपमः: like Vaivasvata (Yama)
• वैवस्वत-उपमः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैवस्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वैवस्वतस्य उपमः)

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher within the Uttara-Bhaga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dharā (Earth)
• Sāgara (Ocean)
• Vahni (Fire)
• Vaivasvata (Yama)

FAQs

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

It defines a dharmic ideal through four cosmic analogies—patience like Earth, inner depth like the ocean, luminous tejas like fire, and just severity like Yama—showing that true righteousness balances compassion with principled firmness.

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

Bhakti is supported by character: kṣānti and gāmbhīrya stabilize the mind for remembrance, tejas strengthens disciplined worship, and controlled, justice-aligned anger prevents dharma from being compromised while serving the Lord and protecting devotees.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily dharma-oriented rather than technical Vedanga instruction; practically, it reflects nīti/sadācāra (ethical discipline) used to regulate speech and action—foundational for correct mantra-japa, vrata observance, and ritual steadiness.