Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तो धर्मराजश्चित्रगुप्तेन धीमता । ननाम दंडवद्भूमौ ममाग्रे सोऽनुकंपितः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

evamukto dharmarājaścitraguptena dhīmatā | nanāma daṃḍavadbhūmau mamāgre so'nukaṃpitaḥ || 72 ||

Translation

เมื่อจิตรคุปต์ผู้มีปัญญากล่าวดังนี้ ธรรมราชผู้เปี่ยมเมตตาจึงก้มกราบต่อหน้าข้าพเจ้า นอนราบลงกับพื้นดุจดัณฑวัต

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate adjective to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त

• धर्मराजः: Dharmaraja (Yama)
• धर्मराजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य राजा)

• चित्रगुप्तेन: by Chitragupta
• चित्रगुप्तेन: Karana (करण) / Agent-in-instrumental (कर्तृकरणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रगुप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (चित्रः गुप्तः)

• धीमता: by the wise one
• धीमता: Karana (करण) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective) विशेषणम् (qualifying चित्रगुप्तेन)

• ननाम: he bowed
• ननाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु) → ननाम (तिङन्त)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दण्डवत्: prostratingly
• दण्डवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/उपमान)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (like a staff; prostrate)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (1st person)

• अग्रे: in front (of me)
• अग्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावप्राय प्रयोगः; ‘अग्रे’ = पुरतः (in front of) (adverbial/locative usage)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनुकम्पितः: moved with compassion / softened
• अनुकम्पितः: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-कम्प् (धातु) → अनुकम्पित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Narada (narrating in first person: 'before me')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dharmaraja (Yama)
• Chitragupta
• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even the cosmic judge (Dharmaraja) embodies humility and compassion—true dharma is not mere punishment, but justice tempered by mercy and reverence for spiritual authority.

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

While not directly describing Vishnu-bhakti, it models bhakti-like surrender: daṇḍavat-pranāma (full prostration) expresses ego-less submission and softened heart (anukampā), which are core devotional dispositions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is dharma-śāstra application: the administration of karma (by Dharmaraja with Chitragupta’s record) requires discernment and compassionate judgment—an applied ethics framework rather than a technical Vedanga lesson.