Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Janaka’s Quest for Liberation; Pañcaśikha’s Sāṅkhya on Renunciation, Elements, Guṇas, and the Deathless State

Devanagari script

आनुपूर्व्या विनश्यंति स्वं धातुमुपयाति च । लोकयात्राविधातश्च दानधर्मफलागमे ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

ānupūrvyā vinaśyaṃti svaṃ dhātumupayāti ca | lokayātrāvidhātaśca dānadharmaphalāgame || 41 ||

Translation

Sie vergehen in rechter Reihenfolge und kehren zu ihrem eigenen Grundstoff zurück; und der Lenker des Weltlaufs lässt die Früchte reifen, die aus Gabe (dāna) und rechtschaffenem Dharma hervorgehen.

Word by Word

• आनुपूर्व्या: gradually/in sequence
• आनुपूर्व्या: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आनुपूर्व्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial instrumental: ‘in due order/gradually’)

• विनश्यन्ति: perish
• विनश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वम्: one’s own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• धातुम्: constituent element/base state
• धातुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उपयाति: goes/returns (to)
• उपयाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + उप (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• लोकयात्राविधातः: the ordainer of worldly life
• लोकयात्राविधातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + यात्रा + विधातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकयात्रायाः विधाता = ordainer of worldly course)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• दानधर्मफलागमे: in the attainment of the fruits of charity and dharma
• दानधर्मफलागमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान + धर्म + फल + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (दानधर्मयोः फलस्य आगमे = in the coming of fruits of charity and dharma)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)

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 asserts an ordered cosmic law: embodied beings dissolve sequentially back into their elemental basis, while the universe’s moral economy is governed so that charity and dharma inevitably yield their corresponding results.

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

By emphasizing a divinely regulated order behind life and karmic outcomes, it supports bhakti as trusting surrender to the cosmic Governor—performing dāna and dharma as offerings, knowing their fruits are administered by higher ordinance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical karma-phala principle relevant to Dharmaśāstra practice: actions like dāna and righteous conduct are not random in outcome but follow a regulated causality—useful for guiding ritual giving, vows, and ethical duties.