Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

Devanagari script

अहं विचक्षणः श्रीमाञ्जिताः सर्वे मयारयः । वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञो नीतिशास्त्रविशारदः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

ahaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ śrīmāñjitāḥ sarve mayārayaḥ | vedavedāṅgatattvajño nītiśāstraviśāradaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

“నేను విచక్షణుడను, శ్రీమంతుడను; నా శత్రువులందరిని నేను జయించితిని. వేద-వేదాంగ తత్త్వజ్ఞుడను, నీతిశాస్త్రంలో విశారదుడను.”

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• विचक्षणः: discerning/clever
• विचक्षणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• श्रीमान्: prosperous/glorious
• श्रीमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• जिताः: have been conquered
• जिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (passive)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; (अर्थतः) 'सर्वे (अरयः)'

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• अरयः: enemies
• अरयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-तत्त्व-ज्ञः: knower of the truth of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas
• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-तत्त्व-ज्ञः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; from √ज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: वेदानां वेदाङ्गानां च तत्त्वं जानाति इति

• नीति-शास्त्र-विशारदः: expert in political science
• नीति-शास्त्र-विशारदः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीति (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: नीतिशास्त्रे विशारदः

Speaker

A worldly-minded speaker (self-praise within the dialogue context; not Narada’s doctrinal voice)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: hasya

FAQs

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

It highlights a common obstacle: pride in learning, prosperity, and victory. The verse frames external success and even Vedic scholarship as insufficient if they inflate ego rather than deepen humility and dharma.

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

By implication, it contrasts self-reliant achievement with the devotional ideal of surrender; bhakti matures when knowledge and success become offerings, not grounds for self-glorification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It explicitly mentions mastery of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas—classically Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyotiṣa, and Kalpa—along with nīti-śāstra, indicating both ritual-technical and ethical-political competence.