Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

Devanagari script

स्थिते तत्र मुनौ राजा देवराडिव संज्वलन् । चितामध्याद्विनिष्क्रम्य विमानवरमास्थितः ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

sthite tatra munau rājā devarāḍiva saṃjvalan | citāmadhyādviniṣkramya vimānavaramāsthitaḥ || 73 ||

Translation

ମୁନି ସେଠି ଦଣ୍ଡାୟମାନ ଥିବାବେଳେ, ରାଜା ଦେବରାଜ ପରି ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ହୋଇ, ଚିତାମଧ୍ୟରୁ ବାହାରି ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବିମାନରେ ଆରୋହଣ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• स्थिते: when (he) was present
• स्थिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्थिते (सति)’ — Locative absolute sense: ‘when (he) was present/standing’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक — ‘there’

• मुनौ: in the sage’s presence
• मुनौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Locative singular (in/at the sage)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine nominative singular

• देव-राट्-इव: like Indra
• देव-राट्-इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + राट् (प्रातिपदिक) + इव (अव्यय)
• Form: इव-उपमावाचक-अव्यय; पूर्वपदद्वयम् उपमानम् — ‘like the king of gods (Indra)’

• संज्वलन्: blazing
• संज्वलन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + ज्वल् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; राजा इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम् — Present participle (blazing)

• चिता-मध्यात्: from the midst of the pyre
• चिता-मध्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चितायाः मध्यः) — Ablative singular (from the middle of the pyre)

• विनिष्क्रम्य: having emerged
• विनिष्क्रम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + नि + क्रम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-अव्यय), अव्ययभावः — Gerund ‘having come out’

• विमान-वरम्: the best chariot (vimāna)
• विमान-वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वरं विमानम्) — Accusative singular (excellent aerial car)

• आस्थितः: having mounted/occupied
• आस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आस्थितः’ = आरूढः/आश्रितः — Past participle (mounted/occupied)

Speaker

Suta (narrator)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Devarat)
• King
• Sage (Muni)
• Vimana

FAQs

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

It portrays the fruition of punya and dharma: even at the moment associated with death (the pyre), the king is shown attaining a luminous, higher state and ascending in a divine vimana, indicating upliftment of the soul through merit and right conduct.

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

Bhakti is implied through the motif of divine grace and exalted post-death ascent; while the verse is narrative rather than doctrinal, it aligns with the Purana’s theme that righteous living and devotion-oriented merit culminate in auspicious divine destinations.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (such as Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it instead references the funeral context (citā), indirectly touching the broader sphere of Kalpa (rites), without detailing any procedure.