Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48
Janaka’s Quest for Liberation; Pañcaśikha’s Sāṅkhya on Renunciation, Elements, Guṇas, and the Deathless State
भूव्योमतोयानलवायवोऽपि सदा शरीरं प्रतिपालयंति । इतीदमालक्ष्य रतिः कुतो भवेद्विनाशिनाप्यस्य न शम विद्यते ॥ ४८ ॥
bhūvyomatoyānalavāyavo'pi sadā śarīraṃ pratipālayaṃti | itīdamālakṣya ratiḥ kuto bhavedvināśināpyasya na śama vidyate || 48 ||
Sogar Erde, Raum, Wasser, Feuer und Wind erhalten diesen Körper unablässig. Wenn man dies erkennt, wie könnte Anhaftung an ihn je angemessen sein? Und doch gibt es, obwohl er vergänglich ist, keine Ruhe (Zügelung) in Bezug auf ihn.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It highlights the body’s elemental, dependent, and perishable nature to cultivate vairagya (dispassion) and redirect the seeker toward inner peace (śama) and liberation (mokṣa).
By reducing fascination with the temporary body, the verse supports single-pointed devotion—turning attention from bodily attachment to remembrance and surrender to the imperishable Divine (often expressed in Narada Purana as Vishnu-bhakti).
Primarily śama (mental restraint) and viveka (discernment) rather than a technical Vedanga; it applies Sankhya-like elemental analysis (pañca-bhūta) as a practical contemplative tool for self-discipline.