Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

स्वनुक्रोशश्च भूतेषु तद्द्विजातिषु लक्षणम् । सत्यंव्रतं तपः शौचं सत्यं विसृजते प्रजा ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

svanukrośaśca bhūteṣu taddvijātiṣu lakṣaṇam | satyaṃvrataṃ tapaḥ śaucaṃ satyaṃ visṛjate prajā || 81 ||

Translation

Mitgefühl gegenüber allen Wesen — dies ist das Kennzeichen des Dvija, des „Zweimalgeborenen“. Doch die Menschen geben die Wahrheit preis: das Gelübde der Wahrhaftigkeit, die Askese (tapas), die Reinheit, ja die Wahrheit selbst wird von der Gesellschaft verworfen.

Word by Word

• स्व: one's own
• स्व: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्राय/उपसर्गसदृश-विशेषण; here as पूर्वपद in compound

• अनुक्रोशः: compassion
• अनुक्रोशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुक्रोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• भूतेषु: among beings
• भूतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case, Locative), बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshya/Reference (निर्देश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; refers to the said quality

• द्विजातिषु: among the twice-born
• द्विजातिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case, Locative), बहुवचन

• लक्षणम्: a characteristic
• लक्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truthful
• सत्यम्: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; as पूर्वपद in compound

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; with previous forms a compound sense

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शौचम्: purity
• शौचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case, Accusative), एकवचन

• विसृजते: abandons
• विसृजते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• प्रजा: people/offspring
• प्रजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It defines true dvija-hood not by birth alone but by universal compassion, and warns that abandoning satya (truth) causes the collapse of vows, austerity, and purity—core supports of Moksha-Dharma.

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

Bhakti is grounded in sattvic conduct: compassion, truthfulness, and inner purity. The verse implies that devotion without satya, tapas, and shaucha becomes hollow and cannot mature into liberating devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes dharmic discipline rather than a technical Vedanga: satya-vrata (ethical vow), tapas (regulated practice), and shaucha (ritual and mental purity) as practical prerequisites for Vedic life and sadhana.