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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 111

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

मोक्षं कदा प्रयास्यामि न जाने नृपसत्तम । एवं वदति विप्रेन्द्र वटस्थेऽस्मिन्निशाचरे ॥ ११ ॥

mokṣaṃ kadā prayāsyāmi na jāne nṛpasattama | evaṃ vadati viprendra vaṭasthe'sminniśācare || 11 ||

मोक्षं कदा प्राप्स्यामि, न जाने भूपश्रेष्ठ। इति वदति विप्रेन्द्रः, अस्मिन्निशाचरे वटतले स्थितः॥

मोक्षम्liberation
मोक्षम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootमोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म
कदाwhen
कदा:
Kala (काल/Time)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकदा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक-कालवाचक (interrogative adverb of time)
प्रयास्यामिshall attain/go to
प्रयास्यामि:
Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-या (धातु)
Formलृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन
not
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)
जानेI know
जाने:
Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन
नृप-सत्तमO best of kings
नृप-सत्तम:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
TypeNoun
Rootनृप (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-तुल्य-तत्पुरुष (श्रेष्ठः नृपः): ‘best of kings’
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Prakara (प्रकार/Manner)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus)
वदतिspeaks
वदति:
Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootवद् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
विप्र-इन्द्रO chief of Brahmins
विप्र-इन्द्र:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपमानार्थ: ‘विप्राणाम् इन्द्रः’ (chief among Brahmins)
वट-स्थेat the banyan (tree)
वट-स्थे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
TypeNoun
Rootवट (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वटे स्थः’ (located at the banyan)
अस्मिन्in this
अस्मिन्:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
TypeNoun
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण
निशाचरेin/with the night-roamer (demon)
निशाचरे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
TypeNoun
Rootनिशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of the being spoken about/scene)

Narrator (Suta-style narration within the Purana; the verse reports a dialogue line spoken by a Brahmin to a king)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

M
Moksha (Liberation)

FAQs

It highlights existential urgency: even a learned person admits uncertainty about when liberation will be attained, prompting sincere practice of dharma and inner detachment rather than complacency.

While bhakti is not named explicitly in this line, the confession of not knowing “when moksha will come” supports the Purana’s broader message: take refuge in steady devotion and remembrance of the Lord, since outcomes and timing are not in one’s control.

No specific Vedanga (such as Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual discipline—maintaining vigilance and renunciation in daily life because the moment of spiritual fruition is uncertain.