Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

तनुवस्त्रापरिज्ञानौ नृत्यं चकृव मोहितौ । प्रारब्धकर्म भोगान्तमावां युगपदागतौ ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

tanuvastrāparijñānau nṛtyaṃ cakṛva mohitau | prārabdhakarma bhogāntamāvāṃ yugapadāgatau || 51 ||

Translation

وبسبب الوَهْمِ غابَ عنّا إدراكُ أجسادِنا وثيابِنا، فشرعنا نرقص. ولمّا اجتمعنا في وقتٍ واحدٍ بلغنا نهايةَ التمتّع بثمراتِ الكَرْما التي قد بدأت سلفًا (براربدها).

Word by Word

• तनु-वस्त्र-अपरिज्ञानौ: (we) not recognizing (our) body and clothes
• तनु-वस्त्र-अपरिज्ञानौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अपरिज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तनुवस्त्रयोः अपरिज्ञानौ = having non-recognition of body and clothing)

• नृत्यम्: dance
• नृत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• चकृव: we did
• चकृव: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• मोहितौ: deluded
• मोहितौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोहित (कृदन्त; मुह्→मोहय्/मोह्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• प्रारब्ध-कर्म: of the begun karma
• प्रारब्ध-कर्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रारब्ध (कृदन्त; रभ्/रम्भ् + प्र) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (प्रारब्धं कर्म = begun karma)

• भोग-अन्तम्: the end of enjoyment (i.e., fruition)
• भोग-अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भोगस्य अन्तम्)

• आवाम्: us two
• आवाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• युगपद्: simultaneously
• युगपद्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: युगपद् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आगतौ: arrived
• आगतौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आगत (कृदन्त; गम् + आ)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) प्रयुक्तः विधेयविशेषणरूपेण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (we two having come/arrived)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the dialogue tradition; exact interlocutor not specified in this single verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It highlights how moha (delusion) can overwhelm self-awareness, while also affirming a key karmic doctrine: prārabdha karma must be experienced to its end, after which its binding force is exhausted.

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

By showing the dangers of delusion and loss of discernment, it indirectly points to Bhakti as a stabilizing refuge: devotion to Vishnu steadies the mind and helps one endure prārabdha without being carried away by moha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (such as Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught directly here; the practical takeaway is doctrinal—understanding prārabdha (karma already begun) as a framework for interpreting life events and spiritual practice.