Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 143

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तु स्वपुरीं प्राप्तो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना । अभिषिक्तो मुनुश्रेष्ट स्वकं राज्यमपालयत् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

tatastu svapurīṃ prāpto vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā | abhiṣikto munuśreṣṭa svakaṃ rājyamapālayat || 43 ||

Translation

ຕໍ່ມາ ມຸນີຜູ້ປະເສີດ ໄດ້ກັບເຖິງນະຄອນຫຼວງຂອງຕົນ ພ້ອມກັບວະສິດຖະມະຫາອາດສະຈັນ ແລ້ວຖືກອະພິເສກ ແລະປົກປ້ອງປົກຄອງອານາຈັກຂອງຕົນ।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle/conjunction (निपात)

• sva-purīm: his own city
• sva-purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāptaḥ: having reached/arrived
• prāptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prāp (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्—क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with implied subject

• vasiṣṭhena: by Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• mahātmanā: by the great-souled one
• mahātmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; epithet of vasiṣṭha

• abhiṣiktaḥ: having been anointed/crowned
• abhiṣiktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√sic (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्—क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘anointed/crowned’

• muni-śreṣṭa: O best of sages
• muni-śreṣṭa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• svakam: his own
• svakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies rājyam

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• apālayat: ruled/protected
• apālayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√pāl (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्), imperfect/past, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta (narrator)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

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

It affirms that legitimate authority is grounded in dharma: consecration (abhiṣeka) guided by a realized sage like Vasiṣṭha leads to rule defined by protection and responsibility, not personal power.

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

While not explicitly about bhakti, it supports the bhakti-ethic of service: a ruler, blessed by a sage, governs as a caretaker—protecting the realm as an offering aligned with divine order (dharma).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implies the application of kalpa (ritual procedure) through abhiṣeka—formal consecration rites performed under priestly guidance—though no specific Vedanga technique is detailed in this line.