Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

सन्मार्गनिरतं सत्यं सर्वभूतहिते रतम् । द्रष्टुमिच्छन्ति विबुधारतवोत्कुष्टगुणप्रियाः ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

sanmārganirataṃ satyaṃ sarvabhūtahite ratam | draṣṭumicchanti vibudhāratavotkuṣṭaguṇapriyāḥ || 37 ||

Translation

যিনি সৎপথে নিবিষ্ট, সত্যনিষ্ঠ এবং সকল জীবের হিতে রত—তাঁকে দর্শন করতে জ্ঞানীরা আকাঙ্ক্ষা করেন; কারণ তাঁরা গুণপ্রিয় ও উৎকৃষ্ট গুণে আসক্ত।

Word by Word

• सत्-मार्ग-निरतम्: devoted to the right path
• सत्-मार्ग-निरतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (कृदन्त; नि+रम्/रम् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘engaged in the good path’

• सत्यम्: truthful
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्व-भूत-हिते: in the welfare of all beings
• सर्व-भूत-हिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in the welfare of all beings’

• रतम्: engaged
• रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (कृदन्त; रम् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) = ‘delighting/engaged’

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive); ‘to see’

• इच्छन्ति: desire
• इच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• विबुधाः: the wise / gods
• विबुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• रत: delighting in
• रत: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (कृदन्त; रम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूप); विशेषणार्थे

• उत्कृष्ट-गुण-प्रियाः: lovers of excellent virtues
• उत्कृष्ट-गुण-प्रियाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्कृष्ट (कृदन्त; उत्+कृष् धातु) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; ‘fond of excellent qualities’

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Narada Purana’s dialogue setting)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It elevates a dharmic person—truthful, established on the right path, and committed to universal welfare—as one worthy of being sought out and revered by the wise.

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

Bhakti is implied through character: devotion becomes credible when it expresses itself as satya (truth), sanmarga (right conduct), and compassionately working for sarvabhuta-hita (the good of all beings).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught here; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (sadachara)—truthfulness and benevolence—as the foundation for higher Vedic practice.