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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

काममूलमिदं जन्म कामः पापस्य कारणम् । यशःक्षयकरः कामस्तस्मात्तं परिवर्जयेत् ॥ ५६ ॥

kāmamūlamidaṃ janma kāmaḥ pāpasya kāraṇam | yaśaḥkṣayakaraḥ kāmastasmāttaṃ parivarjayet || 56 ||

এই দেহধাৰী জন্ম কামনা-মূল। কাম পাপৰ কাৰণ আৰু যশৰ ক্ষয়কাৰী; সেয়ে তাক পৰিত্যাগ কৰা উচিত।

काम-मूलम्having desire as its root
काम-मूलम्:
विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootकाम (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (Genitive Tatpurusha): कामस्य मूलम्
इदम्this
इदम्:
विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
TypeAdjective
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
जन्मbirth
जन्म:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootजन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
कामःdesire
कामः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootकाम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
पापस्यof sin
पापस्य:
सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootपाप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
कारणम्cause
कारणम्:
विधेय/प्रेडिकेट-नाम (Predicate nominative)
TypeNoun
Rootकारण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
यशः-क्षय-करःcausing loss of fame
यशः-क्षय-करः:
विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
TypeAdjective
Rootयशस् (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: यशसः क्षयः तं करोति इति
कामःdesire
कामः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootकाम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
तस्मात्therefore
तस्मात्:
हेतु (Hetu/Cause marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतस्मात् (सर्वनाम-तद्; अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
Formअव्यय; हेतौ/तस्मादर्थे (therefore/from that reason)
तम्it (that desire)
तम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
परिवर्जयेत्should avoid
परिवर्जयेत्:
क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootपरि√वृज् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue on dharma and self-control)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

N
Narada

FAQs

It identifies kāma (desire) as the root impulse that drives rebirth and sinful action, urging deliberate renunciation as a core step toward purity and liberation-oriented living.

By warning that desire erodes virtue and reputation, it implicitly supports bhakti as single-pointed devotion—where the mind turns away from sense-driven craving and becomes fit for steady remembrance and worship.

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (niyama)—restraining kāma to prevent pāpa, which is foundational for any mantra, ritual, or devotional practice to bear fruit.