Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

अस्थिभिर्बहुभिर्भूयः पीतरक्तकलेवरैः । रक्तान्तप्रेतकेशैशअच चित्रासीद्भूर्भयंकरी ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

asthibhirbahubhirbhūyaḥ pītaraktakalevaraiḥ | raktāntapretakeśaiśaaca citrāsīdbhūrbhayaṃkarī || 49 ||

Translation

ପୁନଃ ପୁନଃ ପୃଥିବୀ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଦିଶୁଥିଲା—ବହୁ ଅସ୍ଥିରେ ଛିଟିଯାଇ, ପୀତ ଓ ରକ୍ତରଞ୍ଜିତ କଲେବରରେ ଆବୃତ, ଏବଂ ରକ୍ତଲିପ୍ତ ଜଟାଜୁଟ ପ୍ରେତକେଶରେ ଘୋର ଦୃଶ୍ୟ ହୋଇଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• अस्थिभिः: with bones
• अस्थिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/साधन), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural (by/with bones)

• बहुभिः: many
• बहुभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; विशेषण (अस्थिभिः)

• भूयः: again; moreover
• भूयः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण — adverb (again/more)

• पीत-रक्त-कलेवरैः: with yellow-and-red bodies/carcasses
• पीत-रक्त-कलेवरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कलेवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; समासः (तत्पुरुषः) ‘पीतं च रक्तं च (वर्णौ) यस्य तत् कलेवरम्’ इति विशेषण-समासवत् प्रयोगः

• रक्त-अन्त-प्रेत-केशैः: with ghostly hair smeared/ending in blood
• रक्त-अन्त-प्रेत-केशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; समासः (तत्पुरुषः) ‘रक्तान्ताः (रक्तपर्यन्ताः/रक्तयुक्ताः) प्रेतकेशाः’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात — conjunction (and)

• चित्रा: variegated; strange
• चित्रा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular; विशेषण (भूः)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — 3rd person singular (was)

• भूः: the earth
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular (earth/ground)

• भयम्-करी: fear-causing; terrifying
• भयम्-करी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + करिन्/करी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular; समासः (तत्पुरुषः) ‘भयं करोति’ (fear-causing) विशेषण (भूः)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic account in the frame dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It uses stark imagery of death and decay to awaken vairāgya (dispassion) and remind the listener that worldly life, when driven by adharma, culminates in भय (fear) and suffering—prompting a turn toward dharma and liberation-oriented living.

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

By highlighting the terror and impermanence of embodied existence, the verse indirectly urges refuge (śaraṇāgati) in the divine—Bhakti becomes the safe orientation away from भय (existential fear) toward steadiness in remembrance of the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is dharma-driven conduct and restraint—ethical living as the applied discipline that prevents karmic collapse depicted in such frightful scenes.