Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Vyākaraṇa-saṅgraha: Pada–Vibhakti–Kāraka–Lakāra–Samāsa

Devanagari script

गंगोदकं तवल्कार ऋणार्णं च मुनीश्वर । शीतार्तश्च मुनिश्रेष्ट सेंद्रः सौकार इत्यपि ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgodakaṃ tavalkāra ṛṇārṇaṃ ca munīśvara | śītārtaśca muniśreṣṭa seṃdraḥ saukāra ityapi || 26 ||

Translation

Wahai tuan para muni, disebut “air Gaṅgā”, “pakaian kulit kayu”, dan “beban hutang”. Dan lagi, wahai yang terbaik di antara para pertapa, disebut juga “orang yang menderita kerana sejuk”, bersama Indra, bahkan suku kata “sau” pun turut disebut.

Word by Word

• gaṅgā-udakam: Ganges-water
• gaṅgā-udakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'gaṅgāyāḥ udakam'

• tavalkāraḥ: tavalkāra (a cited form/example)
• tavalkāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tavalkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); lexical item (example-word)

• ṛṇa-arṇam: debt-stream (a cited compound)
• ṛṇa-arṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'ṛṇasya arṇam' (debt + flood/stream)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• munīśvara: O lord among sages
• munīśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'muniḥ eva īśvaraḥ'

• śīta-ārtaḥ: afflicted by cold
• śīta-ārtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīta (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'śītena ārtaḥ' (afflicted by cold)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• muni-śreṣṭha: O best of sages
• muni-śreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya

• sa-indraḥ: together with Indra
• sa-indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/स- उपसर्गार्थक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'indra-sahitaḥ' (together with Indra)

• saukāraḥ: saukāra (a cited form/example)
• saukāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saukāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); lexical item (example-word)

• iti: thus/so
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), additive/concessive

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Indra
• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse reads like a compact listing of sacred/purificatory and ascetic markers (Gaṅgā water, bark garments), worldly bondage (debt), physical hardship (cold-affliction), and even mantra/phonetic elements, indicating how Mokṣa-Dharma discussions often catalogue supports and obstacles on the path.

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

Indirectly: by pointing to purification (Gaṅgā water) and disciplined living (austere clothing), it frames the inner readiness that supports steady devotion—Bhakti in the Narada Purana is strengthened by śauca (purity) and restraint.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The mention of “sau” suggests attention to phonetic/utterance-level detail, aligning with Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) where correct sound and syllabic form are treated as practically significant in mantra and recitation.