Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

तयोक्तो भूपतिः कोपं त्यक्त्वा भार्यां ननन्द च । जलं कुत्र क्षिपामीति चिन्तयामास चात्मना ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

tayokto bhūpatiḥ kopaṃ tyaktvā bhāryāṃ nananda ca | jalaṃ kutra kṣipāmīti cintayāmāsa cātmanā || 34 ||

Translation

അവൾ പറഞ്ഞതുകേട്ട് രാജാവ് കോപം വെടിഞ്ഞ് പത്നിയിൽ പ്രസന്നനായി; 'ഈ ജലം എവിടെ കളയും' എന്ന് സ്വയം ചിന്തിക്കാനും തുടങ്ങി.

Word by Word

• तया: by her
• तया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd) एकवचन; ‘by her’

• उक्तः: addressed (spoken to)
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √वच् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त) कर्मणि/भावे; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘spoken/addressed’

• भूपतिः: the king
• भूपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कोपम्: anger
• कोपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having abandoned’

• भार्याम्: (his) wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ननन्द: rejoiced
• ननन्द: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुत्र: where
• कुत्र: Desha-prashna (देश-प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb of place)

• क्षिपामि: shall I throw
• क्षिपामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-marker (इति-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative)

• चिन्तयामास: he pondered
• चिन्तयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्तयामास (प्रातिपदिक-धातुसमूह; √चिन्त् (धातु) + आमास (परिप्रयोग))
• Form: परिप्रयोगात्मक भूतकाल; ‘आमास’ सह—लिट्/भूतार्थे प्रयोगः; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः: ‘he thought/pondered’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• आत्मना: by himself
• आत्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by himself/with his own mind’

Speaker

Narrator (Suta-style narrative voice within the Purva Bhaga dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Bhūpati (the King)
• Bhāryā (the Wife)

FAQs

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

It highlights inner mastery: the king relinquishes krodha (anger), restores harmony, and then turns his mind toward right action—showing that dharma begins with self-control and thoughtful conduct.

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

Bhakti matures through sattvic qualities—peace, humility, and restraint. The king’s shift from anger to calm reflection mirrors the devotional discipline of aligning emotions and actions with dharmic intention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it points to ritual propriety: “where to pour the water” suggests concern for correct handling/disposal of ritually significant water (ācamanīya/udaka), aligning practice with śrauta-smārta decorum rather than careless action.