Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 111

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

गतपापान्स विज्ञाय यमः सगरसम्भवान् । प्रणम्याभ्यर्च्य विधिवत्प्राह तान्प्रीतमानसः ॥ ११२ ॥

Transliteration

gatapāpānsa vijñāya yamaḥ sagarasambhavān | praṇamyābhyarcya vidhivatprāha tānprītamānasaḥ || 112 ||

Translation

Nhận biết các con vua Sagara đã sạch tội, Diêm Vương (Yama) lòng hoan hỷ, cung kính đảnh lễ, cúng dường theo đúng nghi lễ, rồi cất lời nói với họ.

Word by Word

• gata-pāpān: those freed from sins
• gata-pāpān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gata (कृदन्त; √gam/गम्) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास: 'whose sins have gone'; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (object)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'he'

• vijñāya: having understood
• vijñāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vijñāya (कृदन्त; vi-√jñā/ज्ञा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): 'having known/realized'

• yamaḥ: Yama
• yamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sagara-sambhavān: the descendants of Sagara
• sagara-sambhavān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sagara (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'born of Sagara' (Sagara’s descendants); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: praṇamya (कृदन्त; pra-√nam/नम्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय: 'having bowed'

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhyarcya (कृदन्त; abhi-√arc/अर्च्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय: 'having worshipped/paid homage'

• vidhivat: properly
• vidhivat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhivat (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb): 'according to rule/properly'

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'said/spoke'

• tān: to them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; 'to them/them'

• prīta-mānasaḥ: with a pleased mind
• prīta-mānasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (कृदन्त; √prī/प्री) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास: 'one whose mind is pleased'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (qualifies Yamaḥ)

Speaker

Narrator (Narada Purana narrative voice)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Sagara
• Sagara-putras (sons of Sagara)

FAQs

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

It shows that when sin (pāpa) is exhausted and purity is attained, even Yama—the enforcer of karmic justice—responds with reverence, indicating a shift from punishment to honor based on dharmic merit.

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

While Bhakti is not named directly here, the verse highlights the fruit of inner and outer purification: the soul becomes worthy of respect and auspicious reception, a theme consistent with Narada Purana’s emphasis that devotion and righteous conduct lead to pāpa-kṣaya.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The word “vidhivat” points to correct performance of prescribed rites—aligned with Kalpa (ritual procedure) and supported by Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa for accurate recitation and usage—showing that ritual correctness has recognized spiritual consequence.