Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11
Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā
भगीरथ उवाच । भगवन्सर्वधर्मज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । पृच्छामि भवभीतोऽहं नृणामुद्धारकारणम् ॥ ११ ॥
bhagīratha uvāca | bhagavansarvadharmajña sarvaśāstraviśārada | pṛcchāmi bhavabhīto'haṃ nṛṇāmuddhārakāraṇam || 11 ||
بھگیرتھ نے کہا— اے بھگون! آپ سب دھرموں کے جاننے والے اور سب شاستروں میں ماہر ہیں۔ میں سنسار کے خوف سے ڈرا ہوا انسانوں کے اُدھار کا سبب پوچھتا ہوں۔
Bhagīratha
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames the core Purāṇic inquiry: a seeker, frightened of saṃsāra, approaches a realized authority in dharma and śāstra to learn the decisive principle that uplifts and liberates human beings.
While bhakti is not named here, the verse establishes the bhakti-like posture of surrender—humbly questioning a “bhagavan” who knows dharma and scripture—setting the stage for teachings where devotion and right practice become the means of upliftment.
The verse highlights śāstra-viśārada—scriptural mastery—implying that correct understanding and application of dharmaśāstra and related disciplines (including Vedāṅga-based interpretation) guide human conduct toward upliftment.