Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

दिशो वितिमिरा विप्र कुर्वन्तः स्वेन तेजसा । भयंकरान्याशहस्तान्दंष्ट्रिणो यमकिङ्करान् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

diśo vitimirā vipra kurvantaḥ svena tejasā | bhayaṃkarānyāśahastāndaṃṣṭriṇo yamakiṅkarān || 56 ||

Translation

Hỡi Bà-la-môn, nhờ chính quang huy của mình, họ làm cho bốn phương không còn bóng tối—những kẻ hầu cận của Diêm Vương, đáng sợ, tay nhanh như gió, răng nanh sắc nhọn.

Word by Word

• diśaḥ: directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vitimirāḥ: free from darkness
• vitimirāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-timira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective agreeing with kurvantaḥ

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

• kurvantaḥ: making, causing
• kurvantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले परस्मैपदी शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• svena: by their own
• svena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); reflexive possessive

• tejasā: splendour, radiance
• tejasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhayaṃkarān: terrifying
• bhayaṃkarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhayaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: bhayam + kara (fear-making)

• āśā-hastān: having noose-like hands
• āśā-hastān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āśā (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: āśāyāḥ hastāḥ (hands like nooses/ropes)

• daṃṣṭriṇaḥ: fang-toothed
• daṃṣṭriṇaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṃṣṭrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective to yamakiṅkarān

• yama-kiṅkarān: Yama’s attendants
• yama-kiṅkarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + kiṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: yamasya kiṅkarāḥ (servants of Yama)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes the awe-inspiring power and unmistakable presence of Yama’s attendants, reminding the listener that karmic law is inescapable and that death’s messengers arrive with overwhelming force.

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

By depicting the terror associated with Yama’s agents, the text implicitly motivates refuge in dharma and (in the wider Narada Purana teaching) devotion to Vishnu, which is repeatedly praised as the safest shelter from fear and the consequences of sin.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical: live according to dharma and prescribed duties so one is not subjected to the punitive jurisdiction symbolized by Yama’s attendants.