Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

तां व्याघ्रीं पातयामास तीक्ष्णाग्रनतपर्वणा । पतमाना तु साव्याघ्री षट्रत्रिंशद्योजनायता ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

tāṃ vyāghrīṃ pātayāmāsa tīkṣṇāgranataparvaṇā | patamānā tu sāvyāghrī ṣaṭratriṃśadyojanāyatā || 13 ||

Translation

त्याने तीक्ष्ण अग्र व सांध्यांनी युक्त अशा शस्त्राने त्या व्याघ्रीला पाडले. पडताना छत्तीस योजन लांब ती व्याघ्री मोठ्या वेगाने भूमीवर कोसळली.

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• व्याघ्रीम्: tigress
• व्याघ्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पातयामास: caused to fall / felled
• पातयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• तीक्ष्ण: sharp
• तीक्ष्ण: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; समासाङ्ग (as member of compound)

• अग्र: tip/point
• अग्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• नत: bent/curved
• नत: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नम्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), समासाङ्ग

• पर्वणा: with a joint/segment (of a weapon)
• पर्वणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• पतमाना: falling
• पतमाना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थक

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• व्याघ्री: the tigress
• व्याघ्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• त्रिंशत्: thirty
• त्रिंशत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासाङ्ग

• योजन: yojana (measure)
• योजन: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग

• आयता: extended/long
• आयता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana account)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

FAQs

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

The verse uses cosmic scale (a tigress thirty-six yojanas long) to convey the Purāṇic sense of vastness and awe, reminding the listener that worldly power and terrifying forms can still be brought down, reinforcing humility and faith in higher order (dharma).

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

Direct bhakti instruction is not stated here; however, the narrative’s emphasis on overpowering fearsome forces supports a devotional reading: refuge in the divine and alignment with dharma steadies the devotee when confronted by overwhelming threats.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical element is measurement terminology—“yojana”—a traditional unit frequently used in Purāṇic literature; it reflects the text’s conventional cosmographic and descriptive style rather than a specific Vedāṅga teaching like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa in this verse.