Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Gaṅgāmāhātmya

Devanagari script

पुराणधर्मकथनैर्यः समुद्धरते जगत् । संसारसागरे मग्नं स हरिः परिकीर्तितः ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇadharmakathanairyaḥ samuddharate jagat | saṃsārasāgare magnaṃ sa hariḥ parikīrtitaḥ || 57 ||

Translation

جو پوران اور دھرم کی کتھاؤں کے ذریعے سنسار ساگر میں ڈوبے ہوئے جگت کو اُبھارتا ہے، وہی ہری (وشنو) کے نام سے پرکیर्तت ہے۔

Word by Word

• पुराणधर्मकथनैः: by narrations of Purāṇic dharma
• पुराणधर्मकथनैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण-धर्म-कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुष-समासः (पुराणस्य धर्मस्य कथनैः)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• समुद्धरते: lifts up / rescues
• समुद्धरते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• संसारसागरे: in the ocean of saṃsāra
• संसारसागरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार-सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (संसारस्य सागरे)

• मग्नम्: sunk, immersed
• मग्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मग्न (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त-भाव (PPP-like adjective); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; जगत्-विशेषणम्

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तद्-प्रत्यय (correlative)

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• परिकीर्तितः: is proclaimed (to be)
• परिकीर्तितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘परिकीर्तित’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (is proclaimed)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Purva Bhaga dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It identifies Hari (Vishnu) as the liberator who rescues beings from saṁsāra specifically through purāṇic and dharmic narration—implying that śravaṇa (hearing) and kīrtana (recitation) of sacred teachings function as a direct means of upliftment.

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

By equating the saving power of Purāṇa-Dharma kathā with Hari’s own action, the verse frames devotion as attentive listening, reciting, and internalizing Vishnu-centered sacred narratives—Bhakti expressed as kīrtana/pravacana that transforms the devotee’s consciousness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes kathana (structured teaching/recitation) as a disciplined practice; while it does not name a Vedāṅga directly, it implicitly relies on correct verbal transmission—supported by Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) for accurate preservation and delivery of Purāṇic discourse.