Shloka 57

The Liberation of the Lizard

Godhā-vimukti

Devanagari script

श्रूयते किल राजासीद्धरिश्चंद्रो वरानने । चांडालमंदिरावासी भार्यातनयविक्रयी ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

śrūyate kila rājāsīddhariścaṃdro varānane | cāṃḍālamaṃdirāvāsī bhāryātanayavikrayī || 57 ||

Translation

ഹേ സുന്ദരമുഖിനീ, പരമ്പരയിൽ കേൾക്കപ്പെടുന്നു—രാജാ ഹരിശ്ചന്ദ്രൻ ഒരിക്കൽ ചാണ്ഡാലന്റെ വീട്ടിൽ വസിക്കുകയും ഭാര്യയെയും പുത്രനെയും വരെ വിറ്റുകളയുകയും ചെയ്തു എന്ന്॥५७॥

Word by Word

• श्रूयते: is heard / is said
• श्रूयते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• किल: indeed / it is said
• किल: Avyaya (अव्यय/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; hearsay/emphasis)

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• हरिश्चन्द्रः: Harishchandra
• हरिश्चन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (हरिः च चन्द्रः) नामरूपेण

• वरानने: O fair-faced lady
• वरानने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (वरं आननं यस्याः)

• चाण्डालमन्दिरावासी: dwelling in a Chandala’s house
• चाण्डालमन्दिरावासी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चाण्डाल + मन्दिर + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (चाण्डालस्य मन्दिरे वासी)

• भार्यातनयविक्रयी: seller of (his) wife and son
• भार्यातनयविक्रयी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भार्या + तनय + विक्रयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भार्यां तनयं च विक्रयति)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within Uttara-Bhaga; dialogue context commonly framed as Narada instructing an interlocutor)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Hariścandra
• Caṇḍāla

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the extreme trials undertaken to uphold satya (truth) and dharma—Hariścandra’s fall into social humiliation becomes a model of steadfast righteousness that purifies and elevates the devotee.

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

By presenting unwavering integrity under suffering, it implies that true bhakti is proved through surrender and fidelity to dharma even when honor, comfort, and attachments (family, status) are tested.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it reinforces dharma-śāstra and sadācāra (right conduct) as the applied framework of Vedic life; no specific Vedāṅga (like Jyotiṣa or Vyākaraṇa) is explicitly taught in this single verse.