Shloka 1

The Vision of the Lord Granted to Rukmangada

Prepared to Slay His Son

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठ उवाच । तत्पुत्रवचनं श्रुत्वा राजा रुक्मांगदस्तदा । संध्यावलीमुखं प्रेक्ष्य प्रहृष्टकमलोपमम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

vasiṣṭha uvāca | tatputravacanaṃ śrutvā rājā rukmāṃgadastadā | saṃdhyāvalīmukhaṃ prekṣya prahṛṣṭakamalopamam || 1 ||

Translation

ବସିଷ୍ଠ କହିଲେ—ପୁତ୍ରର ବାକ୍ୟ ଶୁଣି ରାଜା ରୁକ୍ମାଙ୍ଗଦ ସେତେବେଳେ ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟାବଳୀଙ୍କ ମୁହଁକୁ ଦେଖିଲେ; ତାହା ହର୍ଷରେ ପ୍ରଫୁଲ୍ଲିତ ପଦ୍ମ ସଦୃଶ ଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता/speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्-पुत्र-वचनम्: the words of his son
• तत्-पुत्र-वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + पुत्र + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य पुत्रस्य वचनम्)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having heard)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रुक्माङ्गदः: Rukmāṅgada
• रुक्माङ्गदः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्म + अङ्गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (रुक्मः अङ्गदः यस्य/रुक्ममय-अङ्गदः)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• संध्यावली-मुखम्: the face of Sandhyāvalī
• संध्यावली-मुखम्: Karma (कर्म/object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्यावली + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (संध्यावल्याः मुखम्)

• प्रेक्ष्य: having looked at
• प्रेक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having looked at)

• प्रहृष्ट-कमल-उपमम्: like a blossomed lotus
• प्रहृष्ट-कमल-उपमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रहृष्ट + कमल + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: (प्रहृष्टं कमलं इव) उपमम्; मुखम् इति विशेषण

Speaker

Vasiṣṭha

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Rukmāṅgada
• Saṃdhyāvalī

FAQs

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

It highlights the dharmic turning-point in a sacred narrative: the king’s inner response after hearing his son’s words, framed through the purāṇic motif of auspiciousness (a “lotus-like” face), suggesting clarity and upliftment aligned with Dharma.

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

Though indirect, the verse sets the emotional and ethical atmosphere for bhakti-driven dharma: attentive listening to righteous counsel and a softened heart—key traits that support steadfast observance of vows (vrata) and devotion-centered conduct celebrated in the Narada Purana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedāṅga instruction appears in this verse; the practical takeaway is narrative dharma-shikṣā (ethical training): hearing (śravaṇa) and reflecting before acting—often presented in Purāṇas as the lived application of Vedic discipline.