Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

ववर्ष भूमौ देवेन्द्र ः काले काले मुनीश्वर । अधर्मनिरतापाये प्रजा धर्मेण रक्षिताः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

vavarṣa bhūmau devendra ḥ kāle kāle munīśvara | adharmaniratāpāye prajā dharmeṇa rakṣitāḥ || 9 ||

Translation

噢，至上牟尼啊，天帝因陀罗按时降雨于大地；当沉溺于非正法者被除去时，众生便在达摩之中得以护持。

Word by Word

• ववर्ष: rained
• ववर्ष: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• भूमौ: on the earth
• भूमौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• देवेन्द्रः: Indra, lord of the gods
• देवेन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानाम् इन्द्रः)

• काले: at (the) time
• काले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (used adverbially: 'at time')

• काले: season by season
• काले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication) = 'from time to time/seasonally'

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनाम् ईश्वरः)

• अधर्म-निरत-अपाये: when danger (arose) from the adharma-inclined
• अधर्म-निरत-अपाये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (कृदन्त, √रम्) + अपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): अधर्मे निरतस्य (जनस्य) अपाये = 'in the danger of those devoted to adharma' (contextual)

• प्रजाः: the subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• धर्मेण: by/through dharma
• धर्मेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• रक्षिताः: were protected
• रक्षिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (passive sense)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Devendra)
• Dharma
• Prajā (subjects)

FAQs

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

The verse connects cosmic harmony to ethical order: when Dharma prevails and Adharma is checked, nature responds with timely rains and society remains protected.

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

While not directly prescribing Bhakti practices, it implies that devotion expressed as living in alignment with Dharma sustains divine support (such as Indra’s timely rains), which is a key Purāṇic theme.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It indirectly reflects Jyotiṣa (Vedic calendrics/seasonal timing) through the phrase 'kāle kāle'—the importance of proper times and seasons for order, agriculture, and ritual life.