Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 116

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

Devanagari script

अहो विप्र महाभाग नमस्तुभ्यं महात्मने । नामकीर्तनमाहात्म्याद्राक्षसा दूरगावयम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

aho vipra mahābhāga namastubhyaṃ mahātmane | nāmakīrtanamāhātmyādrākṣasā dūragāvayam || 16 ||

Translation

噢，有福的婆罗门，大圣者，向你致敬。由于唱诵神圣之名（kīrtana）的威力与光辉，我们这些罗刹被迫远远退避。

Word by Word

• अहो: oh!
• अहो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विस्मय/सम्बोधन-पूर्वक (interjection)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् भागः यस्य’ (fortunate)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Kriya (क्रिया/Salutation act)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय (indeclinable usage); नमस्कारार्थक (salutation)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• महात्मने: to the great-souled one
• महात्मने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् आत्मा यस्य’

• नाम-कीर्तन-माहात्म्यात्: due to the greatness of chanting the Name(s)
• नाम-कीर्तन-माहात्म्यात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः—‘नामकीर्तनस्य माहात्म्यम्’ तस्मात् (ablative: ‘because of/owing to’)

• राक्षसाः: we rākṣasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• दूरगाः: (have) gone far away/keep far
• दूरगाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘दूरे गमनं येषाम्/दूरे गताः’ (gone far/keeping far)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Rākṣasas (addressing a Brahmin sage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Nāma-kīrtana

FAQs

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

It declares nāma-kīrtana as a protective spiritual force: the vibration and devotion of Divine Name-chanting creates a purity that hostile, tamasic forces (symbolized by Rākṣasas) cannot endure.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical and transformative: sincere chanting and praise of the Divine Name is not merely doctrine—it actively sanctifies the environment and safeguards the devotee.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is ritual-spiritual application—regular nāma-kīrtana as a daily dharmic discipline for inner and outer protection.