Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga

Devanagari script

मंत्रयामास खांडिक्यः सर्वैरेव महामतिः । तमूर्मंत्रिणो वध्यो रिपुरेष वशंगतः ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

maṃtrayāmāsa khāṃḍikyaḥ sarvaireva mahāmatiḥ | tamūrmaṃtriṇo vadhyo ripureṣa vaśaṃgataḥ || 54 ||

Translation

महामती खांडिक्याने सर्वांशी सल्लामसलत केली. तेव्हा मंत्री म्हणाले—“हा शत्रू आपल्या ताब्यात आला आहे; याचा वध करावा.”

Word by Word

• मन्त्रयामास: consulted/deliberated
• मन्त्रयामास: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्रय् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘consulted/deliberated’

• खाण्डिक्यः: Khāṇḍikya
• खाण्डिक्यः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खाण्डिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: सहकारक (Association)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘with all’ (agreeing with implied ‘ministers’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• महामतिः: the great-minded one
• महामतिः: कर्ता/विशेषण (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘great’ + ‘intellect’ = ‘great-minded’

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऊर्म्: O Ūrmi
• ऊर्म्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा एकवचन (context suggests सम्बोधन ‘O Ūrmi’); (पाठदोष-संदेह: ‘तमूर्म’ = ‘तम् ऊर्मे/ऊर्मि’ )

• मन्त्रिणः: O ministers
• मन्त्रिणः: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन बहुवचन (vocative plural) or प्रथमा बहुवचन (nom. pl.); context: संबोधन ‘O ministers’

• वध्यः: to be slain
• वध्यः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective) ‘to be killed’

• रिपुः: enemy
• रिपुः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एषः: this
• एषः: कर्ता/निर्देशक (Deictic subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वशं-गतः: come under (our) control
• वशं-गतः: विधेय/विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष: ‘under control’ (वशम्) + ‘gone’ (गत)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual narrative voice within the Purana; likely Suta relating the account)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Khāṇḍikya
• ministers (mantriṇas)
• enemy (ripu)

FAQs

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

It highlights how power and control over an adversary become a moral test: counsel may push toward violence, but dharma requires discernment beyond mere victory.

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

Indirectly, it frames inner restraint as a support for bhakti—devotion matures when one does not act from hatred or triumphalism even after subduing an enemy.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is nīti/raja-dharma—how counsel shapes royal action and ethical outcomes.