Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

अहिंसा सा नृप प्रोक्ता सर्वकामप्रदायिनी । कर्मकार्यसहायत्वमकार्यपरिपन्थिता ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

ahiṃsā sā nṛpa proktā sarvakāmapradāyinī | karmakāryasahāyatvamakāryaparipanthitā || 26 ||

Translation

ഹേ രാജാവേ! അഹിംസയെ സർവകാമപ്രദായിനി എന്നു പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. അത് ധർമ്മകർമ്മങ്ങളുടെ നിർവഹണത്തിന് സഹായകവും, നിഷിദ്ധ/അധർമ്മ പ്രവർത്തികൾക്ക് തടസ്സവുമാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अहिंसा: non-violence
• अहिंसा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• सा: that (she/it)
• सा: Anuvrtti/Pratipadya (अनुवृत्ति/विधेय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन

• प्रोक्ता: has been declared
• प्रोक्ता: Pratipadya/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; predicate ‘declared/said’

• सर्व-काम-प्रदायिनी: granting all desires
• सर्व-काम-प्रदायिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वान् कामान् प्रददाति इति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (qualifying अहिंसा)

• कर्म-कार्य-सहायत्वम्: helpfulness in (proper) actions and duties
• कर्म-कार्य-सहायत्वम्: Pratipadya/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सहायत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; abstract noun ‘-त्व’

• अकार्य-परिपन्थिता: an obstacle to improper acts
• अकार्य-परिपन्थिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + परिपन्थिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अकार्यस्य परिपन्थिता = obstructing what should not be done); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (qualifying अहिंसा)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It presents ahiṃsā as a supreme dharmic force: it not only yields auspicious results but also safeguards the seeker by preventing descent into adharma.

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

By establishing non-violence as essential conduct, it supports a pure heart and disciplined life—conditions traditionally required for steady devotion and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes dharma-guided application of karma (right action vs. prohibited action), aligning conduct with śāstric injunctions—more ethical hermeneutics than a specific Vedāṅga technique.