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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

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

ब्रह्मराक्षस उवाच । साधु साधु महाप्राज्ञ यत्पृष्टं तद्वदामि ते । गुरुमाहात्म्यकथनं श्रवणं चानुमोदनम् ॥ ९१ ॥

brahmarākṣasa uvāca | sādhu sādhu mahāprājña yatpṛṣṭaṃ tadvadāmi te | gurumāhātmyakathanaṃ śravaṇaṃ cānumodanam || 91 ||

ബ്രഹ്മരാക്ഷസൻ പറഞ്ഞു—സാധു, സാധു, മഹാപ്രാജ്ഞാ! നീ ചോദിച്ചതുതന്നെ ഞാൻ പറയുന്നു: ഗുരുമാഹാത്മ്യം പറയുക, അത് ശ്രവിക്കുക, അതിനെ അംഗീകരിച്ച് അനുമോദിക്കുക.

brahma-rākṣasaḥBrahma-rākṣasa (a brahmin-ghost)
brahma-rākṣasaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक) + rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणः राक्षसः / ब्रह्मसम्बद्धः राक्षसः)
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
sādhugood!
sādhu:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/utterance)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsādhu (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
Formनिपातवत् प्रशंसावाचक-अव्यय (interjection: 'well done')
sādhugood!
sādhu:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/utterance)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsādhu (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुनरुक्त-प्रशंसा-अव्यय
mahā-prājñaO great wise one
mahā-prājña:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootmahā (प्रातिपदिक) + prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास
yatwhich (that)
yat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)
pṛṣṭamasked
pṛṣṭam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootprach (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'yat' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
tatthat
tat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्-सम्बन्ध (correlative)
vadāmiI tell
vadāmi:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvad (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
teto you
te:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
Formचतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन enclitic
guru-māhātmya-kathanamtelling of the teacher's greatness
guru-māhātmya-kathanam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootguru (प्रातिपदिक) + māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक) + kathana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (गुरोः माहात्म्यस्य कथनम्)
śravaṇamhearing
śravaṇam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
anumodanamapproval/assent
anumodanam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootanu-mud (धातु) + lyuṭ (कृत् प्रत्यय)
Formल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त भाववाचक (verbal noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Brahmarakshasa

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

G
Guru
B
Brahmarakshasa

FAQs

It highlights three spiritually meritorious acts centered on the Guru—speaking the Guru’s greatness, hearing it attentively, and giving heartfelt approval—showing that dharmic uplift comes through reverent transmission and reception of sacred praise.

Bhakti is reinforced through śravaṇa (hearing) and positive assent (anumodana) toward the Guru’s virtues, cultivating humility and receptivity—key dispositions for devotion and for receiving mantra-upadeśa and spiritual guidance.

While not a technical Vedanga verse, it emphasizes the practical discipline of śravaṇa (scriptural listening) and sadācāra (proper conduct) in learning—foundational habits that support Vedanga study such as Vyākaraṇa and Śikṣā through attentive hearing and respectful affirmation.