Shloka 20

Dharmāṅgada’s Conquest of the Directions

Devanagari script

तेन संवत्सरं युद्धं घोरं जातं रसातले । जितो नारायणास्त्रेण मया स जलनायकः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

tena saṃvatsaraṃ yuddhaṃ ghoraṃ jātaṃ rasātale | jito nārāyaṇāstreṇa mayā sa jalanāyakaḥ || 20 ||

Translation

Kasama niya, isang kakila-kilabot na digmaan ang naganap sa Rasātala sa loob ng isang buong taon. Sa pamamagitan ng sandatang Nārāyaṇa, aking tinalo ang panginoon ng mga tubig.

Word by Word

• तेन: by that/thereby
• तेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; pronoun, instrumental singular

• संवत्सरम्: for a year
• संवत्सरम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कालावधि), एकवचन; masculine accusative singular used adverbially (duration)

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; neuter nom/acc singular

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective, neuter nom/acc singular

• जातम्: occurred/arose
• जातम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; PPP, neuter nom/acc singular (‘arose/occurred’)

• रसातले: in Rasātala
• रसातले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसातल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; masculine locative singular

• जितः: was defeated
• जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; PPP, masculine nominative singular (‘was defeated’)

• नारायणास्त्रेण: by the Nārāyaṇa weapon
• नारायणास्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण-अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (नारायणस्य अस्त्रम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; neuter instrumental singular

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; pronoun, instrumental singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; pronoun, masculine nominative singular

• जलनायकः: lord of waters
• जलनायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल-नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (जलस्य नायकः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; masculine nominative singular

Speaker

Narrator within the Purana (speaker not explicitly identified from the single verse; likely a first-person narrator in the ongoing dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana (Vishnu)
• Narayanastra
• Rasatala
• Jalanayaka (lord of waters)

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that decisive victory comes through reliance on Nārāyaṇa’s power (Nārāyaṇāstra), symbolizing divine protection overcoming even prolonged, terrifying conflict in the nether realms.

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

It frames success as rooted in Nārāyaṇa’s grace rather than mere human strength: the devotee/narrator prevails by invoking what belongs to Nārāyaṇa, reflecting śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) as a practical expression of bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No direct Vedāṅga instruction appears in this verse; however, it reflects the Purāṇic application of mantra-śakti and astras (ritualized, sacred invocations) that align broadly with disciplined recitation and correct usage emphasized in Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (proper forms).