Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

आसीत्पुरा कृतयुगे सुमतिर्नाम भूपतिः । सोमवंशोद्भवः श्रीमान्सत्पद्वीपैकनायकः ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

āsītpurā kṛtayuge sumatirnāma bhūpatiḥ | somavaṃśodbhavaḥ śrīmānsatpadvīpaikanāyakaḥ || 4 ||

Translation

ໃນການກ່ອນ ໃນຍຸກກຣິຕະ (Kṛta Yuga) ມີກະສັດນາມ “ສຸມະຕິ” ຜູ້ສະຫງ່າງາມ; ກຳເນີດຈາກວົງຈັນ (Somavaṃśa) ແລະເປັນຜູ້ປົກຄອງແຕ່ຜູ້ດຽວແຫ່ງທະວີບເກາະອັນສູງສົ່ງ ຊື່ “ສັດປະດວີປ”.

Word by Word

• आसीत्: there was
• आसीत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: formerly)

• कृतयुगे: in the Kṛta age
• कृतयुगे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत-युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘कृतं युगम्’ (Kṛta-yuga)

• सुमतिः: Sumati
• सुमतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: विशेषण (Name-marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः (indeclinable: ‘by name’)

• भूपतिः: king
• भूपतिः: समानााधिकरण (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-समास-निष्पन्न-प्रातिपदिक (भू+पति)

• सोमवंशोद्भवः: born in the Lunar dynasty
• सोमवंशोद्भवः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सोम-वंश-उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘सोमवंशात् उद्भवः’ (born from the Lunar dynasty)

• श्रीमान्: prosperous, illustrious
• श्रीमान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing prosperity)

• सत्पद्वीपैकनायकः: sole lord of Satpadvīpa
• सत्पद्वीपैकनायकः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्-पद्वीप-एक-नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘सत्पद्वीपस्य एकः नायकः’ (sole ruler of Satpadvīpa)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing an ancient account within the Purana

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sumati
• Somavamsha
• Krita Yuga
• Satpadvipa

FAQs

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

It establishes a dharmic setting—Kṛta Yuga and a righteous Lunar-dynasty king—signaling that the forthcoming narrative is grounded in ideal kingship and purity of conduct.

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

This verse does not directly teach Bhakti practices; it introduces a virtuous king in a sacred age, a common Purāṇic framing that prepares for later instructions where righteous rule supports devotion and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, etc.) is taught in this verse; it primarily conveys Purāṇic chronology (Yuga) and dynastic lineage (vaṃśa).