Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 83

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

नमः परेशभक्ताय लोकानुग्रहहेतवे । संसारारण्यदावाग्ने धर्मपालनसेतवे ॥ ८३ ॥

Transliteration

namaḥ pareśabhaktāya lokānugrahahetave | saṃsārāraṇyadāvāgne dharmapālanasetave || 83 ||

Translation

பரமேஸ்வரனின் பக்தருக்கு வணக்கம்; உலகங்களின் அருள்நலனுக்காகச் செயற்படுபவருக்கு வணக்கம். சம்சாரக் காடின் காட்டுத்தீ போன்றவரே, தர்மத்தைப் பாதுகாக்கும் பாலமாக இருப்பவரே, வணக்கம்.

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपपद-प्रयोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); salutation-usage (नमस्कारार्थे)

• pareśa-bhaktāya: to the devotee of the Supreme Lord
• pareśa-bhaktāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pareśa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Caturthī vibhakti (Dative, 4th), Ekavacana (Singular); tatpuruṣa: pareśasya bhaktaḥ (devotee of the Supreme Lord)

• loka-anugraha-hetave: to the cause of the world’s welfare
• loka-anugraha-hetave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + anugraha (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Caturthī vibhakti (Dative, 4th), Ekavacana (Singular); tatpuruṣa: lokānām anugrahasya hetuḥ (cause of the world’s favor/grace)

• saṃsāra-araṇya-dāva-agne: to the wildfire in the forest of worldly existence
• saṃsāra-araṇya-dāva-agne: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsāra (प्रातिपदिक) + araṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + dāva (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Caturthī vibhakti (Dative, 4th), Ekavacana (Singular); tatpuruṣa: saṃsāra-araṇye dāva-agniḥ (the wildfire in the forest of saṃsāra)

• dharma-pālana-setave: to the bridge/support for upholding dharma
• dharma-pālana-setave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + pālana (प्रातिपदिक) + setu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Caturthī vibhakti (Dative, 4th), Ekavacana (Singular); tatpuruṣa: dharmasya pālanasya setuḥ (bridge/support for the maintenance of dharma)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) / invocatory praise within the dialogue frame

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pareśa (Supreme Lord)
• Bhakta (devotee)

FAQs

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

It praises the Lord’s devotee as a liberating force: devotion burns away the entanglement of saṃsāra and becomes a “bridge” that carries beings toward dharma and freedom.

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

Bhakti is portrayed as active compassion and spiritual power—devotion that benefits the world, destroys ignorance like a forest-fire, and supports dharma so seekers can cross beyond bondage.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, etc.) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-pālana—sustaining righteous conduct as the lived expression of bhakti.