Shloka 31

The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada

Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma

Devanagari script

रुक्मांगदस्य कर्णाभ्यां पटहध्वनिरागतः । मत्तेभकुंभसंस्थस्तु धर्मांगदनिदेशतः ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

rukmāṃgadasya karṇābhyāṃ paṭahadhvanirāgataḥ | mattebhakuṃbhasaṃsthastu dharmāṃgadanideśataḥ || 31 ||

Translation

奉达尔曼加达（Dharmāṅgada）之命，置于发狂大象额头上的战鼓声轰然响起，传入了鲁克曼加达（Rukmāṅgada）的耳中。

Word by Word

• rukmāṃgadasya: of Rukmāṅgada
• rukmāṃgadasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः / Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rukma-aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; proper name; tatpuruṣa ‘golden-armlet’

• karṇābhyām: with (his) two ears
• karṇābhyām: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Dvivacana

• paṭaha-dhvaniḥ: the drum-sound
• paṭaha-dhvaniḥ: Karta (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṭaha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvani (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘sound of a drum’

• āgataḥ: arrived/came
• āgataḥ: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्मः / Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-gam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with paṭaha-dhvaniḥ; ‘having come/arrived’

• matta-ibha-kumbha-saṃsthaḥ: situated on the temple of a rutting elephant
• matta-ibha-kumbha-saṃsthaḥ: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्मः / Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक) + ibha (प्रातिपदिक) + kumbha (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃstha (प्रातिपदिक; from धातु sthā)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; multi-member tatpuruṣa: ‘situated on the temples (kumbha) of an intoxicated elephant’

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle; contrast/emphasis ‘but/indeed’

• dharmāṅgada-nideśataḥ: by Dharmāṅgada’s instruction
• dharmāṅgada-nideśataḥ: Hetu/Prayojaka (हेतुः/प्रयोजकः / Cause/agency)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dharmāṅgada (प्रातिपदिक) + nideśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative adverbial (तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थ) from compound; ‘by/according to the instruction of Dharmāṅgada’

Speaker

Sūta (narrative voice, describing events)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rukmāṅgada
• Dharmāṅgada

FAQs

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

It depicts dharma being publicly proclaimed and made audible to all—symbolized by the paṭaha drum—showing that righteous instruction should be announced and upheld openly in society.

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

Indirectly, it sets the narrative tone of obedience to dharmic command and public religious order—conditions that support bhakti practices (vrata, tīrtha-sevā, and kīrtana) in the wider community.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-social procedure (linked to Kalpa: rules of conduct and public announcements in dharmic governance), using the paṭaha as a formal instrument for proclamation in religious and royal contexts.