Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court

Devanagari script

अथ रूपं परं विप्र बिभ्रतीं स्वेन तेजसा । घृताचीं नामाप्सरसं ददर्श भगवान्नृषिः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

atha rūpaṃ paraṃ vipra bibhratīṃ svena tejasā | ghṛtācīṃ nāmāpsarasaṃ dadarśa bhagavānnṛṣiḥ || 19 ||

Translation

Bấy giờ, hỡi bà-la-môn, bậc hiền thánh được phúc lành đã trông thấy tiên nữ apsaras tên Ghṛtācī, mang vẻ đẹp tối thượng và tự tỏa sáng bằng hào quang của chính mình.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रमसूचक (then)

• rūpam: form, beauty
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• param: supreme, excellent
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying rūpam)

• vipra: O brāhmaṇa
• vipra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• bibhratīm: bearing, possessing
• bibhratīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'धारयन्तीम्'

• svena: by her/his own
• svena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; स्वकीय (own)

• tejasā: splendor
• tejasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• ghṛtācīm: Ghṛtācī (an apsaras)
• ghṛtācīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛtācī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, नामनिर्देशक (quotative/"by name")

• apsarasam: apsaras (celestial nymph)
• apsarasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• bhagavān: the venerable one
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ṛṣiḥ: sage
• ṛṣiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Moksha-dharma section; describing events)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Ghṛtācī

FAQs

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

It introduces a classic Purāṇic theme: a radiant apsaras appears before a sage, testing the steadiness of mind—highlighting that spiritual progress requires vigilance over desire even when beauty and splendour appear.

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

By implying the presence of temptation, it indirectly supports Bhakti as a stabilizing refuge: remembrance of the Divine and disciplined devotion help the seeker remain unmoved by sensory attraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is ethical-ascetic training (tapas and indriya-nigraha) as part of Mokṣa-dharma discipline.