Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

तज्जलस्पर्शमात्रेण पादौ कल्माषतां गतौ । कल्माषपाद इत्येवं ततः प्रभृति विस्तृतः ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

tajjalasparśamātreṇa pādau kalmāṣatāṃ gatau | kalmāṣapāda ityevaṃ tataḥ prabhṛti vistṛtaḥ || 36 ||

Translation

仅因那水一触，其双足便变得黧黑污渍；因此自那时起，他便广为人知，名为“迦尔摩沙钵陀”（意为“足有污痕者”）。

Word by Word

• तत्: by that
• तत्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; (with following compound as instrumental sense: ‘by that…’)

• जलस्पर्शमात्रेण: by the mere touch of water
• जलस्पर्शमात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल-स्पर्श-मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd) एकवचन; समासः: जलस्य स्पर्शः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + मात्र (अवधारण); ‘by the mere touch of water’

• पादौ: the two feet
• पादौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• कल्माषताम्: blackness/blemished state
• कल्माषताम्: Gati-karman (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्माषता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘state of being spotted/blackened’

• गतौ: became/attained
• गतौ: Kriya-samartha (क्रियासमर्थ/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (प्रातिपदिक; √गम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘having gone/attained’ (predicate of pādau)

• कल्माषपादः: Kalmāṣapāda (the one with blackened feet)
• कल्माषपादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्माष-पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘कल्माषः पादः यस्य’/‘कल्माषौ पादौ यस्य’—name/epithet

• इति: thus (called)
• इति: Vacana-marker (इति-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: नामनिर्देश/उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय

• एवम्: in this way
• एवम्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Apadana/Time (अपादान/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अपादानार्थक/कालवाचक अव्यय (from then/thereafter)

• प्रभृति: from (that time) onward
• प्रभृति: Time (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रभृति (अव्यय)
• Form: आरम्भवाचक अव्यय (from… onwards)

• विस्तृतः: became widespread
• विस्तृतः: Kriya-samartha (क्रियासमर्थ/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्तृत (प्रातिपदिक; वि-√स्तृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘spread/renowned’ (of the name/fame)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana’s account)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Kalmāṣapāda

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purāṇic principle that even a single contact (sparśa) with a potent substance or circumstance can produce visible karmic consequences, shaping both one’s condition and one’s social identity (name and fame).

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

Indirectly, it teaches vigilance about one’s associations and actions; in Bhakti, purity of conduct and careful avoidance of harmful contacts support steadiness in devotion and protect one’s dharmic reputation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Nirukta/etymological sense is implied: the name “Kalmāṣapāda” is explained through the event (feet becoming kalmāṣa—stained), illustrating how Purāṇas often derive names through meaningful narration.