Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

तत्रापश्यत् महारण्ये भृगोराश्रममुत्तमम् । कृष्णसारसमाकीर्णं मातङ्गगणसेवितम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

tatrāpaśyat mahāraṇye bhṛgorāśramamuttamam | kṛṣṇasārasamākīrṇaṃ mātaṅgagaṇasevitam || 3 ||

Translation

Tại đó, giữa khu đại lâm, ngài trông thấy đạo viện tối thắng của hiền thánh Bhṛgu, đầy những nai đen (kṛṣṇasāra) và thường có đàn voi lui tới.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb) — ‘there’

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘saw’

• महा-अरण्ये: in the great forest
• महा-अरण्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महत् अरण्यम्) — Locative singular neuter

• भृगोः: of Bhṛgu
• भृगोः: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular masculine

• आश्रमम्: hermitage
• आश्रमम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular masculine

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् — Accusative singular masculine (agreeing with ‘आश्रमम्’)

• कृष्णसार-समाकीर्णम्: filled with blackbucks
• कृष्णसार-समाकीर्णम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्णसार (प्रातिपदिक) + समाकीर्ण (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समास (कृष्णसारैः समाकीर्णम्) — Accusative singular masculine (agreeing with ‘आश्रमम्’)

• मातङ्ग-गण-सेवितम्: frequented/served by herds of elephants
• मातङ्ग-गण-सेवितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समास (मातङ्गगणेन सेवितम्) — Accusative singular masculine (agreeing with ‘आश्रमम्’)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the scene within the Narada Purana’s dialogue framework

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu

FAQs

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

It sanctifies the setting by locating the teaching/narrative in Bhṛgu’s revered āśrama, a space traditionally associated with tapas, purity, and the transmission of dharma and spiritual knowledge.

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

Indirectly: by portraying an ideal sacred environment where sages dwell, it frames later instruction as emerging from a sattvic, protected context—supportive of śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembrance), key supports for bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; it functions as narrative localization (āśrama and vana setting). Practically, it reflects the Vedic āśrama culture that underlies disciplines like kalpa (ritual procedure) and śikṣā (proper recitation) taught in such hermitages.