Shloka 14

Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana

Devanagari script

परिश्रान्तेन्द्रियात्माहं तृट्परीतो बुभुक्षित: । स्‍नात्वा पीत्वा ह्रदे नद्या उपस्पृष्टो गतश्रम: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

pariśrāntendriyātmāhaṁ tṛṭ-parīto bubhukṣitaḥ snātvā pītvā hrade nadyā upaspṛṣṭo gata-śramaḥ

Translation

So wandernd wurde ich an Körper und Geist müde; ich war durstig und hungrig. Da badete ich in einem Flussbecken und trank Wasser. Durch die Berührung mit dem Wasser ließ meine Erschöpfung nach.

Synonyms

• pariśrānta-indriya-ātmā: whose senses were exhausted
• pariśrānta-indriya-ātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pariśrānta (कृदन्त, √śram/श्रम्, क्त, pari-) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः, ‘परिश्रान्तानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः’ (karmadhāraya/bahuvrīhi sense; used as adjective of aham)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tṛṭ-parītaḥ: overcome by thirst
• tṛṭ-parītaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + parīta (कृदन्त, √i/इ, pari-, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः, ‘तृषा परीतः’

• bubhukṣitaḥ: hungry
• bubhukṣitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bhuj (भुज्) (कृदन्त, सन्-आकाङ्क्षा + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; desiderative-based adjective ‘hungry’

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (स्ना) (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), ‘having bathed’

• pītvā: having drunk
• pītvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (पा) (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), ‘having drunk’

• hrade: in the lake
• hrade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hrada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• nadyā: with (the water of) the river
• nadyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘by/with the river’ (river-water)

• upaspṛṣṭaḥ: refreshed/cleansed by contact
• upaspṛṣṭaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa- (उपसर्ग) + √spṛś (स्पृश्) (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘touched/washed’

• gata-śramaḥ: with fatigue gone
• gata-śramaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त, √gam/गम्, क्त) + śrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः, ‘गतः श्रमः यस्य सः’ (fatigue gone)

Purport

A traveling mendicant can meet the needs of the body, namely thirst and hunger, by the gifts of nature without being a beggar at the doors of the householders. The mendicant therefore does not go to the house of a householder to beg but to enlighten him spiritually.

Characters & Entities

• Narada Muni

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about purification before spiritual realization?

This verse shows Narada first becoming refreshed and purified by bathing and drinking—an outer cleansing that mirrors the inner purification required for bhakti to awaken.

Why is Narada Muni describing his hunger and thirst to Vyasa?

Narada recounts his formative experiences to show how a seeker, even when physically distressed, is guided step by step toward purification and ultimately devotion to the Lord.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Care for the body and senses in a sattvic way (cleanliness, moderation, simple living) so the mind becomes fit for hearing, chanting, and steady devotional practice.