Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

गौडदेशेऽतिविख्यातो राजासीद्वीरभद्रकः । महाप्रतापी विद्यावान्सदा विप्रप्रपूजकः ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

gauḍadeśe'tivikhyāto rājāsīdvīrabhadrakaḥ | mahāpratāpī vidyāvānsadā vipraprapūjakaḥ || 61 ||

Translation

ഗൗഡദേശത്തിൽ അതിവിഖ്യാതനായ വീരഭദ്രകൻ എന്ന രാജാവുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. അവൻ മഹാപ്രതാപി, വിദ്യാവാൻ, സദാ ബ്രാഹ്മണരെ പൂജിച്ച് ആദരിക്കുന്നവൻ ആയിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• गौडदेशे: in the Gauḍa country
• गौडदेशे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौडदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (गौडानां देशः)

• अतिविख्यातः: very famous
• अतिविख्यातः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + विख्यात (प्रातिपदिक; ख्या-धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past passive participle used adjectivally; अव्ययीभावः (अति + विख्यात)

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतन-भूत), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect, 3rd person, Singular

• वीरभद्रकः: Vīrabhadraka
• वीरभद्रकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Proper name; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाप्रतापी: of great prowess
• महाप्रतापी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + प्रतापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारयः (महान् प्रतापः यस्य)

• विद्यावान्: learned
• विद्यावान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular (possessive adjective)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• विप्रप्रपूजकः: one who greatly honors brāhmaṇas
• विप्रप्रपूजकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + प्रपूजक (प्रातिपदिक; पूज्-धातोः ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Agent noun; तत्पुरुषः (विप्रान् प्रपूजयति इति)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vīrabhadraka
• Gauḍa-deśa
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

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

It presents an ideal dhārmic king: fame is grounded not merely in power but in vidyā (right knowledge) and consistent reverence for brāhmaṇas, indicating governance aligned with sacred order (dharma).

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

While not directly naming a deity, it frames devotion through respectful service to dharma-bearers (vipras). In Purāṇic ethics, honoring the righteous and the custodians of Veda supports sattva and prepares the mind for Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes vidyā and vipra-pūjā—pointing to the social role of Vedic learning (including Vedāṅga disciplines like Vyākaraṇa and Kalpa) being protected and honored by rulers as part of Rajadharma.