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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

स्वेदमूत्रपुरीषाणि श्लेष्मा पित्त सशोणितम् । त्वन्तः क्षरति सर्वेषां कस्माद्वर्णो विभज्यते ॥ ५४ ॥

svedamūtrapurīṣāṇi śleṣmā pitta saśoṇitam | tvantaḥ kṣarati sarveṣāṃ kasmādvarṇo vibhajyate || 54 ||

Schweiß, Urin und Kot — ebenso Schleim (śleṣma), Galle (pitta) und Blut — treten bei allen gleichermaßen aus dem Inneren der Haut hervor. Wenn die Stoffe des Leibes allen gemeinsam sind, worauf gründet sich dann die Einteilung in „varṇas“?

स्वेदमूत्रपुरीषाणिsweat, urine, and feces
स्वेदमूत्रपुरीषाणि:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootस्वेद + मूत्र + पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (sweat, urine, feces)
श्लेष्माphlegm
श्लेष्मा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootश्लेष्मन्/श्लेष्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)
पित्तम्bile
पित्तम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)
सशोणितम्together with blood
सशोणितम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootस (अव्यय-उपसर्गार्थ) + शोणित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); सहार्थक-तत्पुरुष (with blood)
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/पुनरुक्त्यर्थक निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')
अन्तःwithin
अन्तः:
Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्तः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place: 'within/inside')
क्षरतिflows/oozes
क्षरति:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootक्षर् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)
सर्वेषाम्of all (people)
सर्वेषाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (masc/neut), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)
कस्मात्from what cause?/why?
कस्मात्:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (masc/neut), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (singular); प्रश्नार्थ (interrogative)
वर्णःvarna/class
वर्णः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)
विभज्यतेis divided/apportioned
विभज्यते:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवि-√भज् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: 'is apportioned/divided')

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

It undermines pride based on birth by pointing out that all bodies share the same impure constituents; the verse redirects attention from bodily identity to the pursuit of mokṣa through right understanding.

By reducing attachment to bodily and social identities, it prepares the mind for single-pointed devotion—seeing all beings as equal before the Lord and valuing inner purity over external status.

No specific Vedāṅga is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma-viveka—using discernment to separate social convention from spiritual truth, which supports disciplined conduct and sādhana.