Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

रसो बहुविधः प्रोक्त ऋषिभिः प्रथितात्मभिः । मधुरो लवणस्तिक्तः कषायोऽम्लः कटुस्तथा ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

raso bahuvidhaḥ prokta ṛṣibhiḥ prathitātmabhiḥ | madhuro lavaṇastiktaḥ kaṣāyo'mlaḥ kaṭustathā || 85 ||

Translation

Die Weisen von gerühmtem Geist haben verkündet, dass der Geschmack (rasa) vielerlei ist: süß, salzig, bitter, herb-adstringierend, sauer und scharf.

Word by Word

• रसः: taste/flavor
• रसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बहुविधः: of many kinds
• बहुविधः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (बहवः विधाः यस्य/बहुविधः)

• प्रोक्तः: has been proclaimed
• प्रोक्तः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे विधेय (has been declared)

• ऋषिभिः: by sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• प्रथितात्मभिः: by those of renowned nature (renowned sages)
• प्रथितात्मभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथित (प्र + थि/प्रथ् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (प्रथितः आत्मा येषाम्)

• मधुरः: sweet
• मधुरः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रस-विशेष (sweet taste)

• लवणः: salty
• लवणः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रस-विशेष (salty taste)

• तिक्तः: bitter
• तिक्तः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रस-विशेष (bitter taste)

• कषायः: astringent
• कषायः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कषाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रस-विशेष (astringent taste)

• अम्लः: sour
• अम्लः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रस-विशेष (sour taste)

• कटुः: pungent
• कटुः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रस-विशेष (pungent taste)

• तथा: and so/likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/समापन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha Dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rishis

FAQs

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

It classifies sensory experience (taste) into six standard categories, supporting Moksha Dharma teachings that self-knowledge and liberation require understanding—and regulating—sense contact with the world.

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

By naming the varieties of taste, it implicitly points to sense-discipline: a devotee curbs craving and attachment to pleasures of the tongue, making the mind steadier for Vishnu-bhakti, japa, and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a Vedanga rule per se, it reflects a technical, śāstric taxonomy used in allied Vedic knowledge systems (notably Ayurvedic-style rasa classification) that informs diet, vrata observance, and bodily discipline in dharma practice.