Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Saṃsāra-duḥkha: Karmic Descent, Garbhavāsa, Life’s Anxieties, Death, and the Call to Jñāna-Bhakti

Devanagari script

ज्ञानशून्या नरा ये तु पशवः परिकीर्तिताः । तस्मात्संसारमोक्षाय परं ज्ञानं समभ्यसेत् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

jñānaśūnyā narā ye tu paśavaḥ parikīrtitāḥ | tasmātsaṃsāramokṣāya paraṃ jñānaṃ samabhyaset || 40 ||

Translation

أمّا الناسُ الخالون من المعرفةِ الحقّة فقد وُصِفوا بأنهم كالبهائم. فلأجل الخلاص من السَّمْسارا، ينبغي أن يُجتهَد في تحصيل المعرفةِ العُليا.

Word by Word

• ज्ञान-शून्याः: devoid of knowledge
• ज्ञान-शून्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + शून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘ज्ञानस्य शून्याः’ (devoid of knowledge)

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात), विरोध/विशेषार्थे (but/indeed)

• पशवः: animals/beasts
• पशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• परिकीर्तिताः: are declared (to be)
• परिकीर्तिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+√कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘are declared/called’

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात), अर्थे ‘अतः’ (therefore)

• संसार-मोक्षाय: for liberation from saṃsāra
• संसार-मोक्षाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘संसारस्य मोक्षः’ (liberation from saṃsāra); प्रयोजन (purpose)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समभ्यसेत्: should practice well
• समभ्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+अभि+√अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should diligently practice’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It asserts that human life becomes truly meaningful only through jñāna (spiritual discernment); without it, one lives on instinct like an animal. Hence, the verse urges earnest pursuit of paraṃ jñānam as the direct means to mokṣa from saṃsāra.

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

While the verse speaks explicitly of jñāna, in the Narada Purana’s devotional framework this “highest knowledge” includes knowing the Supreme and one’s dependence on Him—knowledge that matures into steady bhakti and detachment, leading toward liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is prioritizing adhyayana and contemplation aimed at para-jñāna (liberating wisdom) rather than mere worldly learning.