Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 126

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

क्षान्त्या च तपसाचारैस्तद्गुणज्ञा मुनीश्वराः । सञ्जातं शासितुं लोकांस्त्वां विदुः पुरुषोत्तम ॥ १२६ ॥

Transliteration

kṣāntyā ca tapasācāraistadguṇajñā munīśvarāḥ | sañjātaṃ śāsituṃ lokāṃstvāṃ viduḥ puruṣottama || 126 ||

Translation

Nhờ lòng nhẫn nhục của Ngài, cùng các kỷ luật của khổ hạnh và chánh hạnh, các bậc đại Muni—những vị thấu triệt các đức tính thiêng liêng của Ngài—nhận biết Ngài, hỡi Puruṣottama, là Đấng đã hiển lộ để cai quản và nâng đỡ các thế giới.

Word by Word

• kṣāntyā: by forbearance
• kṣāntyā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• ācāraiḥ: by good conduct/practices
• ācāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• tad-guṇa-jñāḥ: knowers of your qualities
• tad-guṇa-jñāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad + guṇa + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य गुणान् जानन्ति)

• munīśvarāḥ: lords among sages
• munīśvarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: munīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां ईश्वराः)

• sañjātam: born/come into being
• sañjātam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण/predicate of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ + jan (धातु)
• Form: कृत (क्त) कृदन्त/भूतकर्मणि, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (त्वाम्) इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण

• śāsitum: to rule/govern
• śāsitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śās (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), परस्मैपद-धातु; purpose

• lokān: worlds/people
• lokān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• viduḥ: have known/recognize
• viduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• puruṣottama: O best of men
• puruṣottama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣottama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भावः (पुरुषेषु उत्तमः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (one of the Sanatkumara brothers), addressing Vishnu/Puruṣottama in praise within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Person is known by the wise through lived virtues—patience (kṣānti), austerity (tapas), and right conduct (ācāra)—and is recognized as the divine ruler who sustains cosmic order.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as guṇa-smaraṇa and guṇa-jñāna—recognizing and contemplating the Lord’s qualities—supported by ethical self-discipline, which makes devotion steady and non-reactive.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Rather than a technical Vedāṅga topic, the verse emphasizes ācāra (regulated conduct) and tapas as practical discipline—foundation for any śāstra-based practice, including mantra recitation and ritual observance.