Shloka 23

Dharmāṅgada’s Conquest of the Directions

Devanagari script

एकां कन्यां सुरूपां मे पुरस्कृत्य स्वलंकृताम् । भार्यार्थे वरुणः प्रादात्साप्यानीता मया शुभा ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

ekāṃ kanyāṃ surūpāṃ me puraskṛtya svalaṃkṛtām | bhāryārthe varuṇaḥ prādātsāpyānītā mayā śubhā || 23 ||

Translation

Varuṇa, apresentando-me uma única donzela de bela forma, ornada com seus próprios adornos, concedeu-ma por esposa; e eu trouxe para casa essa auspiciosa.

Word by Word

• ekām: one
• ekām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; numeral adjective qualifying kanyām

• kanyām: a maiden/daughter
• kanyām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• surūpām: beautiful
• surūpām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying kanyām

• me: my / to me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/genitive) एकवचन (enclitic)

• puraskṛtya: having honored/placed forward
• puraskṛtya: Kriya-samānādhikaraṇa (क्रियासमानाधिकरण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puras-kṛ (धातु) → puraskṛtya (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having placed in front/honored’

• sva-laṃkṛtām: well-adorned
• sva-laṃkṛtām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + alaṃkṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (स्वेन अलंकृता = adorned by oneself/own adornment); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying kanyām

• bhāryā-arthe: for (as) a wife
• bhāryā-arthe: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/प्रयोजनवाचक (bhāryāyāḥ arthe = for (as) a wife); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th) एकवचन, अर्थे = ‘for the purpose of’ (idiomatic locative)

• varuṇaḥ: Varuṇa
• varuṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• prādāt: gave
• prādāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-dā (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (also/even)

• ānītā: was brought
• ānītā: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-nī (धातु) → ānīta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; passive sense

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/agent in passive; instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• śubhā: auspicious/fair
• śubhā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; qualifying sā (kanyā)

Speaker

Narrator in the Tirtha-Mahatmya frame (Uttara-Bhaga narrative voice; traditionally Suta relating the Purana, within which the event is recounted)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa

FAQs

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

It portrays dharmic order in social life: marriage is shown as a sanctioned, purposeful act (bhāryārthe) and the bride is described as śubhā (auspicious), reflecting the Purāṇic emphasis that righteous household life can support merit (puṇya) within a sacred narrative setting.

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

This specific verse is primarily narrative rather than devotional instruction; indirectly, it situates personal life-events within a Purāṇic sacred history, a framework that later supports bhakti by encouraging devotees to see life and dharma as integrated with divine order and sacred places (tīrthas).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse hints at gṛhya-dharma (household rites) through the marriage purpose (bhāryārthe) and presentation/adornment (puraskṛtya, svalaṅkṛtām), aligning with ritual propriety; it is not a technical Vedāṅga exposition, but it reflects samskāra-oriented practice.