Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

निश्चित्य विबुधाः सर्वे पातालान्तरगोचरम् । कपिलं देवदेवेशं ययुः प्रच्छन्नरूपिणः ॥ ८० ॥

Transliteration

niścitya vibudhāḥ sarve pātālāntaragocaram | kapilaṃ devadeveśaṃ yayuḥ pracchannarūpiṇaḥ || 80 ||

Translation

निश्चित्य विबुधाः सर्वे पातालान्तरगोचरम् । कपिलं देवदेवेशं ययुः प्रच्छन्नरूपिणः ॥

Word by Word

• निश्चित्य: having decided
• निश्चित्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-चित् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having ascertained/decided’

• विबुधाः: the gods
• विबुधाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘विबुधाः’)

• पाताल-अन्तर-गोचरम्: moving within the netherworld
• पाताल-अन्तर-गोचरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाताल + अन्तर + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘कपिलम्’); समासः—पातालस्य अन्तरं तत्र गोचरः (moving/roaming within the netherworld)

• कपिलम्: Kapila
• कपिलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; destination/whom they approached)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• देव-देव-ईशम्: the Lord of the gods
• देव-देव-ईशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to ‘कपिलम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; समासः—देवानां देवः तस्य ईशः (Lord of the god of gods / supreme lord)

• ययुः: they went
• ययुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन; ‘they went’

• प्रच्छन्न-रूपिणः: in disguised forms
• प्रच्छन्न-रूपिणः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रच्छन्न + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘विबुधाः’); समासः—प्रच्छन्नं रूपं येषाम् (having concealed forms)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devas (Vibudhas)
• Patala

FAQs

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

It highlights that divine beings act with discernment and humility—approaching a higher divine principle (Kapila, deva-deveśa) carefully, even by concealing identity—showing that true authority rests in tattva (truth) rather than outward status.

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

By portraying the gods themselves approaching the Lord reverentially and without display, it reflects a bhakti attitude: seeking the divine with restraint, sincerity, and readiness to submit ego and rank.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it reflects niti (strategic conduct) and contextual discernment used in Purana narratives; no explicit Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) instruction is stated in this verse.