Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 141

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

Devanagari script

ततो नृपस्तु कालिंगं प्रणम्य विधिर्वमुने । नामानि व्याहरन्विष्णोः सद्यो वाराणसीं ययौ ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

tato nṛpastu kāliṃgaṃ praṇamya vidhirvamune | nāmāni vyāharanviṣṇoḥ sadyo vārāṇasīṃ yayau || 41 ||

Translation

แล้วพระราชาแห่งกาลิงคะได้กราบนอบน้อมต่อฤๅษีวิธิรวมุนี และเปล่งพระนามของพระวิษณุ แล้วเสด็จไปยังพาราณสีโดยพลัน।

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle)

• कालिङ्गम्: Kāliṅga (person/region)
• कालिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; देश/जनपद-नाम

• प्रणम्य: having bowed to
• प्रणम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having bowed’

• विधिः: Vidhī (Brahmā)/the ordainer
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वमुने: O Vamune (proper name; uncertain reading)
• वमुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वमुना/वमुन (प्रातिपदिक; पाठदोष/दुर्लभ-नाम)
• Form: सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; (सम्बोधन-रूपेण)

• नामानि: names
• नामानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• व्याहरन्: uttering/reciting
• व्याहरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-√हृ (धातु) (व्याहरति)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• वाराणसीम्: Vārāṇasī
• वाराणसीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नगर-नाम

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) reporting the episode within the Purāṇic dialogue

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Kāliṅga (king)
• Vidhirvamuni
• Vārāṇasī

FAQs

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

It highlights the proper devotional sequence: honoring the teacher (praṇāma to the sage) and taking Viṣṇu’s names on one’s lips, which sanctifies the journey and aligns it with dharma.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical remembrance—reciting Viṣṇu’s names while acting in the world. The king’s immediate departure “sadyaḥ” reflects decisive surrender and trust in the purifying power of nāma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technicality is taught directly; the practical takeaway is disciplined recitation (clear utterance of divine names) and guru-vandana as foundational religious conduct before undertaking a tīrtha-yātrā.