Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

एवं बहुतिथं कालं नीत्वा यात्यन्तधैर्यवान् । ध्यायन्नारायणं देवं शीर्णपर्णाशनोऽभवत् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ bahutithaṃ kālaṃ nītvā yātyantadhairyavān | dhyāyannārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ śīrṇaparṇāśano'bhavat || 49 ||

Translation

如此，经过极其漫长的岁月，他——以至高坚忍而不动——仍继续前行，恒常观想那罗延天主（Nārāyaṇa），并以枯叶为食而度日。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb: “thus/in this manner”)

• बहुतिथम्: for many days/for a long time
• बहुतिथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु-तिथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter accusative singular adjective)

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (masc. acc. sg.)

• नीत्वा: having spent/passed
• नीत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), धातु: नी (to lead/spend)

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (present indicative, 3rd sg.)

• अन्तधैर्यवान्: one possessing utmost/enduring courage
• अन्तधैर्यवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त-धैर्य-वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—“यस्य अन्ते धैर्यम् अस्ति” (masc. nom. sg. adjective)

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (present active participle, nom. sg.)

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (masc. acc. sg.)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; नारायणम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण/अपपद (masc. acc. sg.)

• शीर्णपर्णाशनः: an eater of fallen/dry leaves
• शीर्णपर्णाशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्ण-पर्ण-आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“शीर्णानि पर्णानि अश्नाति” (masc. nom. sg.)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/imperf.), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (imperfect, 3rd sg.)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana

FAQs

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

It highlights sustained sādhana: long-term endurance (dhairya) combined with uninterrupted meditation on Nārāyaṇa, culminating in increased austerity and detachment from ordinary sustenance.

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

Bhakti here is shown as continuous remembrance (dhyāna) of Nārāyaṇa that stabilizes the mind and empowers the devotee to live simply, even accepting minimal food, without losing devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is disciplined dhyāna and tapas as a lived method of spiritual training.