Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

मा रक्ष तस्मादेतान्वै गोरूपव्याघ्रकर्मिणः । हत्वैतानखिलान् दुष्टांस्त्वत्प्रसादान्महीं भजे ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

mā rakṣa tasmādetānvai gorūpavyāghrakarmiṇaḥ | hatvaitānakhilān duṣṭāṃstvatprasādānmahīṃ bhaje || 50 ||

Translation

ฉะนั้นอย่าได้คุ้มครองคนเหล่านี้—รูปลักษณ์ดุจโค แต่การกระทำดุจเสือ จงประหารคนชั่วเหล่านี้ทั้งหมด; ด้วยพระกรุณาของท่าน ข้าพเจ้าจักเสวยและปกครองแผ่นดิน

Word by Word

• mā: do not
• mā: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niṣedha used with imperative (prohibitive particle)

• rakṣa: protect
• rakṣa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/लोट्), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• tasmāt: therefore, from that (reason)
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially: Puṃ/Nap, Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; hetu/apanaya sense

• etān: these (ones)
• etān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphasis/assurance particle (nipāta)

• go-rūpa-vyāghra-karmiṇaḥ: those who have cow-like appearance but tiger-like deeds
• go-rūpa-vyāghra-karmiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक) + karman/karmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa chain: go-rūpa (having cow-form) + vyāghra-karmiṇaḥ (acting like tigers)

• hatvā: having killed
• hatvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action)

• etān: these (ones)
• etān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana

• akhilān: all, entire
• akhilān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana; qualifies etān

• duṣṭān: wicked
• duṣṭān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana; qualifies etān

• tvat-prasādāt: by your grace
• tvat-prasādāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: tava prasādaḥ, tasmāt (by/through your favor)

• mahīm: the earth, land
• mahīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• bhaje: I partake/possess, I enjoy
• bhaje: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Ekavacana; ātmanepada

Speaker

Unspecified petitioner/supplicant (dialogue context within Narada Purana narrative; addressed to a ruler/protector figure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It condemns hypocrisy—those who appear gentle and righteous but act violently—and affirms that protecting dharma may require firm punishment of persistent evil.

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

Bhakti is not mere outward display; sincere devotion aligns with truth and dharma. The verse critiques external “cow-like” appearances that hide predatory conduct, implying that devotion must be inwardly pure and ethically consistent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Kalpa, Jyotiṣa, Nirukta, Chandas) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is rajadharma—discerning character beyond appearances and acting to restrain adharma.