Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 106

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

मनश्शुद्धिविहीना ये तीर्थयात्रां प्रकुर्वते । न तान्पुंनति तीर्थानि सुराभांडमिवापगा ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

manaśśuddhivihīnā ye tīrthayātrāṃ prakurvate | na tānpuṃnati tīrthāni surābhāṃḍamivāpagā || 6 ||

Translation

الذين يقومون بالحجّ إلى التيـرثا وهم بلا طهارةٍ في الذهن لا تُطهِّرهم المواضع المقدّسة—كما لا يستطيع النهر تطهير إناءٍ مملوءٍ بالخمر.

Word by Word

• मनः-शुद्धि-विहीनाः: those lacking mental purity
• मनः-शुद्धि-विहीनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—मनःशुद्धिः (षष्ठी) + मनःशुद्धिविहीनः ('devoid of purity of mind')

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

• तीर्थ-यात्राम्: pilgrimage
• तीर्थ-यात्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'pilgrimage to sacred places'

• प्रकुर्वते: undertake
• प्रकुर्वते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; 'undertake/perform'

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; refers to 'those (people)'

• पुनाति: purifies
• पुनाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तीर्थानि: sacred places
• तीर्थानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; subject of पुनाति

• सुरा-भाण्डम्: a liquor pot
• सुरा-भाण्डम्: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (उपमान-प्रयोगे), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'a liquor vessel' (as the compared object)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक

• अपगा: a river
• अपगा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'river' (lit. 'water that goes'); subject in simile: 'a river (does not purify a liquor pot)'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It teaches that the true fruit of tīrtha-yātrā depends on antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (inner purity); without a purified mind, external sacred contact does not transform the person.

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

Bhakti is not merely outward observance; it requires sincerity, humility, and a purified mind. The verse implies that devotion-bearing purity is the real “tīrtha” that makes practices effective.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the practical principle behind ritual efficacy (kalpa-oriented conduct): external rites like pilgrimage must be supported by inner discipline and mental purification for dharmic results.