Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

सगेरण यथा पूर्वं महीयं सप्तसागरा । रक्षिता तद्वदमुना सर्वधर्माविरोधिना ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

sageraṇa yathā pūrvaṃ mahīyaṃ saptasāgarā | rakṣitā tadvadamunā sarvadharmāvirodhinā || 4 ||

Translation

Như thuở xưa vua Sagara đã che chở trái đất này—được bảy đại dương bao quanh—thì vị vua ấy cũng bảo hộ như vậy, hành xử không hề trái nghịch với bất cứ dharma nào.

Word by Word

• सगेरण: by Sagera (name; uncertain reading)
• सगेरण: Karta/Agent-instrument (कर्ता-हेतु/Instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट-रूप (possibly 'सगेरेण')

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative 'as, just as')

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative); कालवाचक (formerly, earlier)

• महीम्: the earth
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सप्तसागराम्: (earth) with seven oceans
• सप्तसागराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण of महीम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त-सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (सप्त सागराः यस्याः सा)

• रक्षिता: was protected/ruled
• रक्षिता: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'was protected/ruled')

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यवाचक (likewise)

• अमुना: by him
• अमुना: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• सर्वधर्माविरोधिना: by one not opposed to any dharma
• सर्वधर्माविरोधिना: Visheshana (विशेषण of अमुना)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-धर्म-अविरोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; अमुना इति विशेषण

Speaker

Narada (contextual narration within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Sagara

FAQs

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

It presents righteous protection (rakṣaṇa) as a sacred duty: true authority safeguards the world while remaining aligned with dharma, making governance itself a spiritual discipline.

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

By implying that dharma-aligned rule supports the welfare and religious life of people; such protection becomes service to the divine order (dharma), which is a foundational expression of bhakti in social life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily teaches Rajadharma rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it stresses dharma-consistent conduct (ācāra) as the guiding rule for decisions—an applied ethical framework used alongside smṛti and purāṇic guidance.