Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11
Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation
अहं राजा समस्तानां लोकानां पालको बली । कर्त्ता महाक्रतूनां च मत्तः पूज्योऽस्ति कोऽपरः ॥ ११ ॥
ahaṃ rājā samastānāṃ lokānāṃ pālako balī | karttā mahākratūnāṃ ca mattaḥ pūjyo'sti ko'paraḥ || 11 ||
“मी सर्व लोकांचा राजा, त्यांचा बलवान पालक आहे; मी महाक्रतूंचा कर्ता देखील आहे. माझ्याहून अधिक पूज्य दुसरा कोण?”
An arrogant ruler/egoic claimant (as quoted in the narrative; not Narada’s own voice)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It exposes ahaṅkāra (ego) as a spiritual obstacle: worldly power and even grand sacrifices can inflate self-importance, leading one to mistake oneself as the highest object of worship.
By presenting the voice of self-glorification, the verse implicitly contrasts it with bhakti, where worship is directed to the Supreme (typically Viṣṇu in the Narada Purana) and the devotee cultivates humility rather than self-deification.
It references mahākratu (major śrauta yajñas), pointing to ritual competence (Kalpa/Vedāṅga) while implying that ritual power alone—without right intent and humility—does not confer true spiritual authority.