Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release
परितत्याज मृगयां ततः प्रभृति नारद । गते बहुतिथे काले हयमेधमखं नृपः ॥ १७ ॥
paritatyāja mṛgayāṃ tataḥ prabhṛti nārada | gate bahutithe kāle hayamedhamakhaṃ nṛpaḥ || 17 ||
അന്നുമുതൽ, ഹേ നാരദ, ആ രാജാവ് വേട്ടയെ പൂർണ്ണമായി ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചു. ഏറെ കാലം കഴിഞ്ഞ ശേഷം ആ നൃപൻ മഹത്തായ അശ്വമേധയാഗം ആരംഭിച്ചു.
Sanatkumāra (addressing Nārada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)
Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)
FAQs
It shows a dharmic turning point: the king renounces a violent pastime (hunting) and later adopts a Vedic, socially sanctioned act (Aśvamedha), indicating movement from indulgence to ritual responsibility.
Bhakti is not stated directly here, but the verse supports the broader purāṇic theme that self-restraint and dharmic conduct prepare the mind for higher worship—shifting from harm to sacred duty is a foundational step toward devotion.
It points to Śrauta ritual practice (yajña-vidhi): the Aśvamedha is a major Vedic sacrifice requiring precise procedure, mantras, and officiants—implying applied knowledge of ritual disciplines and their correct performance.