Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

राज्ञा त्वजानता नूनमेतत्कर्मोचितं कृतम् । विवेकरहितोऽज्ञोऽहं यतः पापं समाचरेत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

rājñā tvajānatā nūnametatkarmocitaṃ kṛtam | vivekarahito'jño'haṃ yataḥ pāpaṃ samācaret || 41 ||

Translation

Sesungguhnya raja melakukan perbuatan ini tanpa mengetahui apa yang patut. Aku ini jahil dan tanpa viveka, sehingga aku telah melangkah melakukan dosa.

Word by Word

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन

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

• अजानता: not knowing
• अजानता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजानत् (कृदन्त; ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of राज्ञा

• नूनम्: certainly
• नूनम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (certainly)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म; with कृतम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here with कर्मोचितम् (neut)

• कर्म-उचितम्: an act that was proper/appropriate
• कर्म-उचितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'proper as an act'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of एतत्

• कृतम्: was done
• कृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (it was done)

• विवेक-रहितः: devoid of discernment
• विवेक-रहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवेक (प्रातिपदिक) + रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अज्ञः: ignorant
• अज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-प्रयोग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक अव्यय (causal: 'because/wherefrom')

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: might commit/practise
• समाचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/potential), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Unspecified (a repentant speaker within the narrative context of Adhyaya 9)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• King (Rājā)

FAQs

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

It highlights self-accountability: recognizing ignorance and lack of discernment (viveka) as the root of sinful action, which is the first step toward correction and purification.

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

By admitting fault and inner confusion, the verse sets the emotional ground for surrender—humility and remorse are key dispositions that mature into sincere seeking of divine guidance, often fulfilled through Vishnu-bhakti in the Purana’s broader teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is ethical discernment (viveka) applied to karma: knowing what is 'karmocita' (proper conduct) before acting—aligned with dharma-niti reasoning rather than a technical Vedanga like Vyakarana or Jyotisha.