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Shloka 26

Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana

Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti

यदात्मानमविज्ञाय भगवन्तं परं गुरुम् । पुरुषस्तु विषज्जेत गुणेषु प्रकृते: स्वद‍ृक् ॥ २६ ॥ गुणाभिमानी स तदा कर्माणि कुरुतेऽवश: । शुक्लं कृष्णं लोहितं वा यथाकर्माभिजायते ॥ २७ ॥

yadātmānam avijñāya bhagavantaṁ paraṁ gurum puruṣas tu viṣajjeta guṇeṣu prakṛteḥ sva-dṛk

إذا لم يعرف الكائن الحيّ حقيقته ونسِيَ بهاگافان، المُعلِّم الأعلى، انغمس في غونات الطبيعة المادية. وباعتزازه بالغونات يعمل مُكرهاً، ثم بحسب كرمه يولد بأجساد شتّى: بيضاء أو سوداء أو حمراء.

yatwhen/if (relative)
yat:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक/यदा-तदा-प्रयोगे 'यत्' (relative particle)
ātmānamthe self
ātmānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootātman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन
avijñāyanot knowing / without realizing
avijñāya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootvi√jñā (धातु) + a- (निषेध)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); 'अविज्ञाय' = न ज्ञात्वा; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया
bhagavantamthe Lord
bhagavantam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
paramsupreme
param:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (भगवन्तम्/गुरुम्)
gurumthe guru/teacher
gurum:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootguru (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (भगवन्तम्)
puruṣaḥa person
puruṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
tubut/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक निपात
viṣajjetawould become attached / would cling
viṣajjeta:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvi√saj (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
guṇeṣuin the qualities (modes)
guṇeṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन
prakṛteḥof nature
prakṛteḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootprakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
sva-dṛkself-seeing / self-conceited (seeing oneself as)
sva-dṛk:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsva (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛś (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधार)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः): 'स्वस्य दृष्/दृक्' = स्वदृक्; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (पुरुषः)

These different types of bodies are explained in Bhagavad-gītā (13.22) :

B
Bhagavan (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

This verse explains that when one does not realize the self and the Supreme Lord, one naturally becomes absorbed in prakriti’s modes (gunas) and begins to identify and act under their influence.

Narada emphasizes that the Lord is the ultimate guide; forgetting Him and one’s spiritual identity is the root cause of bondage in material qualities.

Notice how moods, habits, and identities shift with material influence; grounding life in spiritual practice (bhakti, remembrance of the Lord, guidance from guru) helps one stop living as a product of the gunas.