Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

यस्माद् दैवं हि साधुनां रक्षिता दुष्टशिक्षिता । ततो नरैरस्वतन्त्रैः किं कार्यं साध्यते वद ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

yasmād daivaṃ hi sādhunāṃ rakṣitā duṣṭaśikṣitā | tato narairasvatantraiḥ kiṃ kāryaṃ sādhyate vada || 57 ||

Translation

Sapagkat ang banal na kalooban (daiva) ang siyang nag-iingat sa mga banal at nagpaparusa sa masasama, sabihin mo: anong gawain ang magagawa ng taong hindi tunay na malaya?

Word by Word

• yasmāt: since/from which (cause)
• yasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative sense adverbial relative (यत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय), ‘from which/therefore’ (यतः/यस्मात्-अर्थे)

• daivam: fate/divine power
• daivam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed

• sādhūnām: of the good (people)
• sādhūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• rakṣitā: protected
• rakṣitā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rakṣ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with implied feminine ‘(daivī śaktiḥ)’/or used predicatively

• duṣṭa-śikṣitā: (having) punished/disciplined the wicked
• duṣṭa-śikṣitā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + śikṣ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): duṣṭānām śikṣitā ‘having disciplined the wicked’; PPP (कर्मणि क्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• tataḥ: therefore
• tataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय), ‘therefore/from that’

• naraiḥ: by men
• naraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• a-svatantraiḥ: not independent, helpless
• a-svatantraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svatantra (प्रातिपदिक) with a- (नञ्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; negative adjective (नञ्) qualifying naraiḥ

• kim: what?
• kim: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; interrogative

• kāryam: task/purpose
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sādhyate: is accomplished
• sādhyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sādh (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vada: tell (me)
• vada: Pravartaka (प्रवर्तक/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

Speaker

Narada (as the questioning sage in dialogue with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Daiva (Divine Providence)

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes daiva as the higher ordering principle that safeguards sādhus and corrects the wicked, encouraging humility, surrender, and freedom from egoistic doership.

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

By highlighting human dependence and daiva’s governance, it naturally supports bhakti as reliance on the Divine rather than pride in personal control—cultivating surrender (śaraṇāgati) and trust in the Lord’s protection.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Śikṣā) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is ethical discernment—act according to dharma while accepting results as governed by daiva.