Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

भगीरथस्य धर्मस्य संवादं पुण्यकारणम् । आसीद्भगीरथो राजा सगरान्वयसंभवः ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

bhagīrathasya dharmasya saṃvādaṃ puṇyakāraṇam | āsīdbhagīratho rājā sagarānvayasaṃbhavaḥ || 29 ||

Translation

Ngayon ay isasalaysay ang isang pag-uusap tungkol sa dharma ni Bhagīratha—na nagiging sanhi ng kabanalan at gantimpala. May isang haring nagngangalang Bhagīratha, isinilang sa angkan ni Sagara.

Word by Word

• भगीरथस्य: of Bhagiratha
• भगीरथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगीरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• धर्मस्य: of Dharma
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• संवादम्: dialogue/conversation
• संवादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुण्यकारणम्: a cause of merit
• पुण्यकारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समास: पुण्यस्य कारणम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• भगीरथः: Bhagiratha
• भगीरथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगीरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सगरान्वयसंभवः: born in Sagara's lineage
• सगरान्वयसंभवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सगर + अन्वय + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समास: सगरस्य अन्वयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तस्मात् सम्भवः (पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः: 'born in/from the lineage')

Speaker

Suta (narrator voice introducing the episode within the Narada Purana’s dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagiratha
• Sagara

FAQs

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

It frames the coming narrative as a “puṇya-kāraṇa” (merit-producing) dharmic discourse, indicating that hearing and reflecting on righteous conduct itself is spiritually beneficial.

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

Indirectly: by presenting a dharma-centered royal exemplar (Bhagīratha) whose life is traditionally associated with selfless effort for the welfare of others—an attitude that supports bhakti as service and surrender to higher purpose.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga is taught in this verse; it functions as a Purāṇic narrative marker (anukrama/intro) that establishes lineage (vaṃśa/anvaya) and the dharma theme for the episode.