Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

The Origin of the Gaṅgā and the Gods’ Defeat Caused by Bali

Devanagari script

बुभुजेऽव्याहतैश्चर्यप्रवृद्धश्रीर्महाबलः । इत्याज चाश्वमेघैः स विष्णुप्रीणनतत्परः ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

bubhuje'vyāhataiścaryapravṛddhaśrīrmahābalaḥ | ityāja cāśvameghaiḥ sa viṣṇuprīṇanatatparaḥ || 31 ||

Translation

Taglay ang dakilang lakas at ang kasaganaan na lumago dahil sa di-napapahamak na katuwiran, tinamasa niya ang kanyang kaharian. Kaya rin isinagawa niya ang mga handog na Aśvamedha, na buong layong palugdan si Panginoong Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• बुभुजे: he enjoyed/partook
• बुभुजे: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• अव्याहतैः: with unobstructed (means)
• अव्याहतैः: करण (instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-व्याहत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करणत्वे (as instrument/means)

• ऐश्वर्यप्रवृद्धश्रीः: one whose splendor grew through sovereignty
• ऐश्वर्यप्रवृद्धश्रीः: कर्ता (subject-qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य-प्रवृद्ध-श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘ऐश्वर्येण प्रवृद्धा श्रीः यस्य सः’

• महाबलः: mighty
• महाबलः: कर्ता (subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महच्च तत् बलम्’

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थसूचक/उद्धरण-समाप्तिसूचक (quotative)

• आयज: he performed sacrifice
• आयज: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अश्वमेघैः: with Aśvamedha sacrifices
• अश्वमेघैः: करण (instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व-मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘अश्वस्य मेघः’ इति (नामधेय-यज्ञः)

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

• विष्णुप्रीणनतत्परः: intent on pleasing Viṣṇu
• विष्णुप्रीणनतत्परः: कर्ता (subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु-प्रीणन-तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘विष्णोः प्रीणने तत्परः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing a king devoted to Vishnu

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ashvamedha

FAQs

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

It links worldly prosperity (śrī) to unobstructed dharmic conduct and frames major Vedic sacrifice as ultimately meaningful when oriented toward pleasing Viṣṇu.

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

Bhakti is shown as the inner intention (tatparatā): even royal power and grand rituals like Aśvamedha become devotional when performed for Viṣṇu-prīṇana (the satisfaction of Viṣṇu).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa) is implied: the verse references Aśvamedha as a regulated śrauta rite, emphasizing correct performance of yajña within rāja-dharma.