Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

सगेरण यथा पूर्वं महीयं सप्तसागरा । रक्षिता तद्वदमुना सर्वधर्माविरोधिना ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

sageraṇa yathā pūrvaṃ mahīyaṃ saptasāgarā | rakṣitā tadvadamunā sarvadharmāvirodhinā || 4 ||

Translation

Assim como outrora Sagara protegeu esta terra, cercada pelos sete oceanos, assim também ele a protegeu, agindo sem contrariar qualquer dharma.

Word by Word

• सगेरण: by Sagera (name; uncertain reading)
• सगेरण: Karta/Agent-instrument (कर्ता-हेतु/Instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट-रूप (possibly 'सगेरेण')

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative 'as, just as')

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative); कालवाचक (formerly, earlier)

• महीम्: the earth
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सप्तसागराम्: (earth) with seven oceans
• सप्तसागराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण of महीम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त-सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (सप्त सागराः यस्याः सा)

• रक्षिता: was protected/ruled
• रक्षिता: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'was protected/ruled')

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यवाचक (likewise)

• अमुना: by him
• अमुना: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• सर्वधर्माविरोधिना: by one not opposed to any dharma
• सर्वधर्माविरोधिना: Visheshana (विशेषण of अमुना)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-धर्म-अविरोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; अमुना इति विशेषण

Speaker

Narada (contextual narration within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Sagara

FAQs

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

It presents righteous protection (rakṣaṇa) as a sacred duty: true authority safeguards the world while remaining aligned with dharma, making governance itself a spiritual discipline.

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

By implying that dharma-aligned rule supports the welfare and religious life of people; such protection becomes service to the divine order (dharma), which is a foundational expression of bhakti in social life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily teaches Rajadharma rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it stresses dharma-consistent conduct (ācāra) as the guiding rule for decisions—an applied ethical framework used alongside smṛti and purāṇic guidance.