Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

Devanagari script

वनं गतस्ततो बाहुरन्तर्वत्न्या स्वभार्यया । अवाप परमां तुष्टिं तत्र दृष्ट्वा महत्सरः ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

vanaṃ gatastato bāhurantarvatnyā svabhāryayā | avāpa paramāṃ tuṣṭiṃ tatra dṛṣṭvā mahatsaraḥ || 33 ||

Translation

Rồi Bāhu vào rừng cùng người vợ của mình đang mang thai. Tại đó, khi thấy hồ nước lớn, ông đạt được niềm mãn nguyện tối thượng.

Word by Word

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गतः: having gone
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गत (कृदन्त; गम् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kala (काल/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (then/thereafter)

• बाहुः: Bāhu (proper name)
• बाहुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अन्तर्वत्न्या: with (his) pregnant (wife)
• अन्तर्वत्न्या: Sahakari (सहकारी/Companion-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर्वत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• स्वभार्यया: with his own wife
• स्वभार्यया: Sahakari (सहकारी/Companion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समास-विग्रहः: स्वा भार्या (one's own wife)

• अवाप: obtained
• अवाप: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: अव-

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण तुष्टेः

• तुष्टिम्: contentment
• तुष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• महत्-सरः: a great lake
• महत्-सरः: Karma (कर्म/Object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास-विग्रहः: महत् सरः (a great lake)

Speaker

Narada (narration within the Purva-bhaga dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Bāhu

FAQs

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

It highlights how a shift from worldly struggle to a life aligned with simplicity (vanavāsa) can awaken inner peace; the “great lake” functions as a symbol of refuge and renewed clarity in dharma-oriented living.

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

While Vishnu is not named here, the Purāṇic method teaches bhakti indirectly: contentment and surrender arise when one accepts providence and seeks sanctified spaces, preparing the mind for devotion and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No direct Vedāṅga instruction appears in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti—choosing a sattvic environment (forest/āśrama-like setting) to stabilize mind and conduct, which supports mantra, vrata, and later devotional practice.