Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

दुर्वृत्ताः सागराः सर्वे लोकोपद्र वकारिणः । अनुष्ठानवतां नित्यमन्तराया भवन्ति ते ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

durvṛttāḥ sāgarāḥ sarve lokopadra vakāriṇaḥ | anuṣṭhānavatāṃ nityamantarāyā bhavanti te || 74 ||

Translation

ସମସ୍ତ ସାଗର ଦୁର୍ବୃତ୍ତ, ଲୋକକୁ ଉପଦ୍ରବ କରୁଥିବା; ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନବାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସେମାନେ ନିତ୍ୟ ଅନ୍ତରାୟ ହୁଅନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• दुर्वृत्ताः: ill-conducted/wicked
• दुर्वृत्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सागराः: oceans (Sāgaras)
• सागराः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• लोक-उपद्रव-कारिणः: causing trouble to the world
• लोक-उपद्रव-कारिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + उपद्रव + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (श्रृङ्खला; ‘लोकस्य उपद्रवः’ + ‘कारिन्’ = causing disturbance to the world); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अनुष्ठानवताम्: of those who perform rites
• अनुष्ठानवताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुष्ठानवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kala/Adverbial (काल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे क्रियाविशेषणवत्; अव्यय (adverbial accusative)

• अन्तरायाः: obstacles
• अन्तरायाः: Karta/Predicate-noun (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तराय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भवन्ति: become/are
• भवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sagara (oceans)

FAQs

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

It frames the “ocean” as a symbol of restless, world-disturbing forces that repeatedly test a practitioner’s steadiness in anuṣṭhāna (disciplined observance), highlighting the need for perseverance despite recurring impediments (antarāya).

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

By stressing constant obstacles to practice, it implies that bhakti and vrata require unwavering continuity—devotion is proven by steadiness when external conditions (like vast, turbulent “oceans” of life) disrupt routine worship and vows.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes anuṣṭhāna-prayoga (the practical execution of rites and vows): maintaining regularity, anticipating interruptions, and preserving ritual discipline—an applied ritual principle rather than a technical lesson in śikṣā or vyākaraṇa.