Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

प्राणायामपरो भूत्वा राजा परमधार्मिकः । निरुच्छ्वासस्तपस्तप्तुं ततः समुपचक्रमे ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

prāṇāyāmaparo bhūtvā rājā paramadhārmikaḥ | nirucchvāsastapastaptuṃ tataḥ samupacakrame || 50 ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ പരമധാർമ്മികനായ രാജാവ് പ്രാണായാമത്തിൽ ലീനനായി; ശ്വാസം നിയന്ത്രിച്ച് തപസ്സിന് തുടക്കം കുറിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• प्राणायामपरः: devoted to prāṇāyāma
• प्राणायामपरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राणायाम-पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“प्राणायामे परः/निष्ठः” (masc. nom. sg.)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), धातु: भू (to become)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• परमधार्मिकः: supremely righteous
• परमधार्मिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—“परमः धार्मिकः” (masc. nom. sg.)

• निरुच्छ्वासः: breathless
• निरुच्छ्वासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-उच्छ्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“निर्गतः उच्छ्वासः यस्य” (masc. nom. sg.; ‘without exhalation/breathless’)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

• तप्तुम्: to perform (austerity)
• तप्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), धातु: तप् (to perform austerity / to heat)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्/अनन्तरं (indeclinable: ‘then/thereafter’)

• समुपचक्रमे: began/undertook
• समुपचक्रमे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उप+क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (perfect, 3rd sg. Ā.)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta / Purāṇic narrator voice)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rāja (the king)

FAQs

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

It presents prāṇāyāma (regulated breath) as a practical support for tapas—showing that inner discipline and dharmic resolve are prerequisites for sustained spiritual austerity.

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

Though bhakti is not named here, the verse highlights self-restraint and focused practice; in Purāṇic spirituality these become preparatory disciplines that steady the mind and senses, making devotion and remembrance more constant.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught directly; the practical takeaway is yogic discipline (prāṇāyāma) used as a method to concentrate the mind for tapas, aligning conduct with dharma.