Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । शप्तः कथं वसिष्ठेन सौदासो नृपसत्तमः । गङ्गाबिन्दूभिषेकेण पुनः शुद्धोऽबवत्कथम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | śaptaḥ kathaṃ vasiṣṭhena saudāso nṛpasattamaḥ | gaṅgābindūbhiṣekeṇa punaḥ śuddho'bavatkatham || 1 ||

Translation

Nārada thưa: “Vì sao vua Saudāsa—bậc tối thượng trong hàng quân vương—bị Vasiṣṭha nguyền rủa? Và nhờ tắm gội bằng những giọt nước Gaṅgā, ngài đã được thanh tịnh trở lại như thế nào?”

Word by Word

• nāradaḥ: Narada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• śaptaḥ: cursed
• śaptaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śap (धातु) + kta (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Past Passive Participle

• katham: how
• katham: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative Adverb

• vasiṣṭhena: by Vasistha
• vasiṣṭhena: Karta (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• saudāsaḥ: Saudasa
• saudāsaḥ: Karma (Object in passive/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saudāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nṛpasattamaḥ: best of kings
• nṛpasattamaḥ: Samanadhikarana (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpasattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• gaṅgābindūbhiṣekeṇa: by the sprinkling of Ganga drops
• gaṅgābindūbhiṣekeṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgābindvabhiṣeka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• śuddhaḥ: purified
• śuddhaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śudh (धातु) + kta (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Past Passive Participle

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Lang Lakara (Imperfect Past), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• katham: how
• katham: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative Adverb

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Vasistha
• Saudasa
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It frames a dharmic inquiry: even a great king can fall under a curse, yet purification is possible through sacred means—here, the sanctifying power of Gaṅgā-tīrtha and ritual abhiṣeka.

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

By emphasizing humility and seeking purification through holy agencies (like Gaṅgā), the verse supports a bhakti-shaped attitude: surrendering to sacred grace and restoring purity to resume righteous living and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied through the technical act of abhiṣeka (consecratory bathing), aligning with kalpa-style procedural knowledge used in purification rites connected to tīrthas.