Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

Devanagari script

परितत्याज मृगयां ततः प्रभृति नारद । गते बहुतिथे काले हयमेधमखं नृपः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

paritatyāja mṛgayāṃ tataḥ prabhṛti nārada | gate bahutithe kāle hayamedhamakhaṃ nṛpaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

اسی وقت سے، اے نارَد، اُس بادشاہ نے شکار کو بالکل ترک کر دیا۔ اور بہت زمانہ گزرنے پر اُس نریش نے عظیم اشومੇدھ یَجْن کا آغاز کیا۔

Word by Word

• परि: completely/around (intensifier)
• परि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb) used with verb त्यज्

• तत्याज: abandoned/gave up
• तत्याज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मृगयाम्: hunting
• मृगयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter/from then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रभृति: from (that time) onward
• प्रभृति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रभृति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (postposition/adverb) meaning ‘from (a time) onward’

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative), एकवचन

• गते: when (it) had passed
• गते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √गम्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative absolute with काले

• बहु: many
• बहु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; विशेषण

• तिथे: days (tithis)
• तिथे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (in compound sense with बहु)

• काले: at a time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative absolute

• हयमेध: Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)
• हयमेध: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक) + मेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: हयानां मेधः = ‘horse-sacrifice’

• मखम्: sacrifice/rite
• मखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (addressing Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• nṛpa (the king)
• Hayamedha (Aśvamedha)

FAQs

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

It shows a dharmic turning point: the king renounces a violent pastime (hunting) and later adopts a Vedic, socially sanctioned act (Aśvamedha), indicating movement from indulgence to ritual responsibility.

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

Bhakti is not stated directly here, but the verse supports the broader purāṇic theme that self-restraint and dharmic conduct prepare the mind for higher worship—shifting from harm to sacred duty is a foundational step toward devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Śrauta ritual practice (yajña-vidhi): the Aśvamedha is a major Vedic sacrifice requiring precise procedure, mantras, and officiants—implying applied knowledge of ritual disciplines and their correct performance.