Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 166

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

सनक उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा मुनिशार्दूल महाराजं भगीरथम् । धर्मात्मानं धर्मराजः सद्यश्वान्तर्दधेतदा ॥ १६६ ॥

Transliteration

sanaka uvāca | ityuktvā muniśārdūla mahārājaṃ bhagīratham | dharmātmānaṃ dharmarājaḥ sadyaśvāntardadhetadā || 166 ||

Translation

สนกะกล่าวว่า—ครั้นตรัสดังนี้แล้ว ธรรมราช (ยม) ผู้ทรงธรรม ได้กล่าวแก่พระเจ้าภคีรถะ ผู้เป็นดุจพยัคฆ์ท่ามกลางฤๅษี แล้วก็อันตรธานไปในทันที

Word by Word

• सनकः: Sanaka
• सनकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having said’

• मुनिशार्दूल: O tiger among sages
• मुनिशार्दूल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• महाराजम्: the great king
• महाराजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भगीरथम्: Bhagiratha
• भगीरथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगीरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); महाराजम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण-सम्बन्ध (apposition)

• धर्मात्मानम्: the righteous-souled (one)
• धर्मात्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः—‘धर्मः आत्मा यस्य सः’ (one whose soul is righteous)

• धर्मराजः: Dharma-raja (Yama)
• धर्मराजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: immediately)

• अन्तर्दधे: disappeared/vanished
• अन्तर्दधे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर्-धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: then)

Speaker

Sanaka

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Sanaka
• Bhagiratha
• Dharmaraja (Yama)

FAQs

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

It underscores the authority and immediacy of Dharma itself: once the dharmic instruction is delivered, Dharma-rāja withdraws, implying the responsibility now rests on the listener to embody and enact dharma.

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

Bhakti is implied indirectly: reverent reception of divine/ethical instruction is part of devotion, and the verse highlights humility and readiness to follow dharma—foundational qualities that mature into steadfast Vishnu-bhakti in Purāṇic teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti—ethical conduct and kingly duty—presented through Purāṇic narrative.