Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

Devanagari script

तेऽतिष्ठन्ध्यानमालंब्य मौनमास्थाय निश्चलाः । त्यक्ताहाराः स्पर्द्धमाना दिव्यं वर्षशतं द्विजाः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

te'tiṣṭhandhyānamālaṃbya maunamāsthāya niścalāḥ | tyaktāhārāḥ sparddhamānā divyaṃ varṣaśataṃ dvijāḥ || 47 ||

Translation

তেওঁলোকে ধ্যানৰ আশ্ৰয় লৈ, মৌন অৱলম্বন কৰি, অচলভাৱে স্থিৰ হৈ ৰ’ল। আহাৰ ত্যাগ কৰি সেই দ্বিজ ঋষিসকলে তপস্যাৰ স্পৰ্ধাত এশ দিব্য বছৰ সহ্য কৰিলে।

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• atiṣṭhan: stood; remained
• atiṣṭhan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural; form: atiṣṭhan (अतिष्ठन्)

• dhyānam: meditation
• dhyānam: Karma (कर्म/object of ālaṃbya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• ālaṃbya: having resorted to; taking support of
• ālaṃbya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-lamb (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप् form)

• maunam: silence
• maunam: Karma (कर्म/object of āsthāya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mauna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• āsthāya: having undertaken; adopting
• āsthāya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा; ल्यप् form)

• niścalāḥ: motionless; steady
• niścalāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niścala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural; adjective qualifying te

• tyakta-āhārāḥ: having abandoned food; fasting
• tyakta-āhārāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta (कृदन्त, क्त; from tyaj धातु) + āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (त्यक्तः आहारः येषाम्)

• sparddhamānāḥ: striving; exerting themselves
• sparddhamānāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: spardh (धातु) → spardhamāna (कृदन्त, शतृ/वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-कृदन्त); Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural; agrees with te/dvijāḥ

• divyam: divine; celestial
• divyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; adjective qualifying varṣaśatam

• varṣa-śatam: a hundred years
• varṣa-śatam: Karma (कर्म/extent of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; समासः—द्विगु (शतं वर्षाणाम्)

• dvijāḥ: twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition to te)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in dialogue with Nārada, describing the sages’ austerities)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dwijas (twice-born sages)

FAQs

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

It highlights extreme tapas as a classical Mokṣa-dharma method: unwavering posture, meditation, silence, and fasting sustained over vast time—showing the power (and rigor) of ascetic restraint to purify the mind.

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

By emphasizing arduous austerity, it implicitly sets a contrast often made in Mokṣa discussions: while tapas can discipline the senses, Narada Purana frequently elevates inner surrender and remembrance of the Divine (bhakti) as a more accessible, mind-centered path when performed with steadiness and purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse chiefly reflects vrata- and yoga-discipline (mauna, upavāsa/tyaktāhāra, dhyāna) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it points to regulated observances used in Vedic-ascetic training to cultivate concentration and self-control.