Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga

Devanagari script

पार्थिवोऽयं तथा देहो मृदंभोलेपनस्थितिः । पंचभोगात्मकैर्भोगैः पंचभोगात्मकं वपुः ॥ ९३ ॥

Transliteration

pārthivo'yaṃ tathā deho mṛdaṃbholepanasthitiḥ | paṃcabhogātmakairbhogaiḥ paṃcabhogātmakaṃ vapuḥ || 93 ||

Translation

Dieser Körper ist von irdischer Natur; er wird durch Erde, Wasser und Salbungen erhalten. Durch Genüsse, die aus den fünf Sinnesobjekten bestehen, wird auch der Leib selbst von diesen fünf Genüssen geprägt und gleichsam daraus gebildet.

Word by Word

• पार्थिवः: earthly/of earth
• पार्थिवः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); देह-विशेषणम्

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• देहः: body
• देहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• मृद्-अम्भः-लेपन-स्थितिः: a structure/condition of plastering with clay and water
• मृद्-अम्भः-लेपन-स्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् + अम्भस् + लेपन + स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (मृदम्भोः लेपनस्य स्थितिः / मृद्-अम्भः-लेपन-स्थितिः)

• पञ्च-भोग-आत्मकैः: with five-enjoyment-natured
• पञ्च-भोग-आत्मकैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + भोग + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) (भोगैः सह विशेषण), तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन (plural); समासः तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चभोगाः यस्य आत्मा/स्वभावः)

• भोगैः: by/with enjoyments
• भोगैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन (plural)

• पञ्च-भोग-आत्मकम्: having the nature of five enjoyments
• पञ्च-भोग-आत्मकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + भोग + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); वपुः-विशेषणम्; समासः तत्पुरुषः

• वपुः: body/form
• वपुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It frames the body as a perishable, earth-made support system sustained by external substances, and shows how attachment to the five sense-objects molds one’s identity—prompting vairagya (dispassion) as a foundation for moksha.

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

By exposing sense-enjoyment as the force that shapes bodily identification, the verse encourages redirecting attention from pañca-bhoga (sense-objects) to the Lord; such detachment steadies the mind, making Vishnu-bhakti more single-pointed and pure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-psychological discipline—guarding the senses (indriya-nigraha) and reducing dependence on sensory bhoga to support spiritual practice.