Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

सोऽपि शापद्वयं श्रुत्वा तया दत्तं निशाचरः । प्रमन्युः प्राहि विसृजन्कोपादङ्गारसंचयम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

so'pi śāpadvayaṃ śrutvā tayā dattaṃ niśācaraḥ | pramanyuḥ prāhi visṛjankopādaṅgārasaṃcayam || 66 ||

Translation

ఆ నిశాచరుడు (ప్రమన్యుడు) కూడా ఆమె ఇచ్చిన రెండు శాపములను విని, కోపము వలన కలిగిన నిప్పుకణికల సమూహమును విడుచుచు పలికెను.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

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

• śāpa-dvayam: the two curses
• śāpa-dvayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāpa + dvi (संख्या) > dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास: द्वौ शापौ (two curses); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); श्रुत्वा (having heard)

• tayā: by her
• tayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental); एकवचन

• dattam: given (by her)
• dattam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; ‘शापद्वयम्’ इति विशेषणम् (given/uttered)

• niśācaraḥ: the night-roamer (rākṣasa)
• niśācaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā-cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: निशायां चरति (one who moves at night); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• pramanyuḥ: Pramanyu
• pramanyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramanyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषनाम (proper name)

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• visṛjan: releasing/letting out
• visṛjan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; ‘प्रमन्थुः/निशाचरः’ इत्यस्य सह (while releasing)

• kopāt: from anger
• kopāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (ablative); एकवचन; हेतौ (out of anger)

• aṅgāra-saṃcayam: a heap of embers
• aṅgāra-saṃcayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgāra + saṃcaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: अङ्गाराणां सञ्चयः (heap of embers); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing the episode; traditionally Suta in Purana discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pramanyu

FAQs

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

It highlights the potency of a spoken curse (śāpa) and shows how anger (krodha) manifests as inner “fire,” implying that restraint and dharma are safeguards against karmic fallout.

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

Indirectly, it contrasts wrath-driven behavior with the self-control valued in bhakti; devotion to Vishnu is traditionally taught as calming the mind and purifying speech, preventing harmful reactions like those driven by krodha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedanga is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline of speech and emotion—often treated as foundational conduct supporting scriptural study and ritual practice.