Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

तडित्वद्धोरनिर्घोषा राक्षसी विकृताभवत् । पतितां स्वप्रियां वीक्ष्य द्विषन्स व्याघ्रराक्षसः ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

taḍitvaddhoranirghoṣā rākṣasī vikṛtābhavat | patitāṃ svapriyāṃ vīkṣya dviṣansa vyāghrarākṣasaḥ || 14 ||

Translation

ବିଜୁଳି ପରି ଭୟଙ୍କର ଗର୍ଜନା ସହ ସେ ରାକ୍ଷସୀ ବିକୃତ ରୂପ ଧାରଣ କଲା। ନିଜ ପ୍ରିୟାକୁ ପତିତ ଦେଖି ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ରସଦୃଶ ରାକ୍ଷସ ଦ୍ୱେଷରେ ଉଦ୍ଦୀପ୍ତ ହେଲା।

Word by Word

• तडित्: lightning
• तडित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग

• वत्: like
• वत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय; अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग)
• Form: तद्धितान्त (possessive/like), समासाङ्ग; ‘-वत्’ = ‘like/possessing’

• घोर: terrible
• घोर: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; विशेषण

• निर्घोषा: (she) with a loud roar
• निर्घोषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (as adjective-noun) ‘having a roar/sound’

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

• विकृता: deformed/changed
• विकृता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पतिताम्: fallen
• पतिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्व: his own
• स्व: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; स्व- = ‘own’

• प्रियाम्: beloved (wife)
• प्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Hetu/पूर्वक्रिया (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having seen’

• द्विषन्: hating/enraged
• द्विषन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्याघ्र: tiger
• व्याघ्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• राक्षसः: demon
• राक्षसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing the episode within the Purva-bhaga narrative

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra (anger)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasī
• Vyāghra-rākṣasa

FAQs

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

It depicts how uncontrolled passion and hatred trigger inner distortion—symbolized by the rākṣasī’s frightening transformation—warning that tamasic emotions quickly overturn discernment (viveka) and lead to destructive outcomes.

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

By contrast: bhakti cultivates softness, restraint, and protection of others, while this scene shows the opposite—rage and possessiveness—highlighting why Narada Purana repeatedly recommends devotion to Viṣṇu as a purifier of such impulses.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga practice (like Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the takeaway is ethical psychology in Purāṇic narrative—how emotions (krodha/dveṣa) shape action and destiny (karma).