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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Bharata’s Attachment and the Palanquin Teaching on ‘I’ and ‘Mine’

मृगत्वहेतुभूतस्य कर्मणो निष्कृतिं ययौ । तत्र चोत्सृष्टदेहोऽसौ जज्ञे जातिस्मरो द्विजः ॥ ३१ ॥

mṛgatvahetubhūtasya karmaṇo niṣkṛtiṃ yayau | tatra cotsṛṣṭadeho'sau jajñe jātismaro dvijaḥ || 31 ||

Er vollzog die Sühne für das Karma, das zur Ursache seines Hirschdaseins geworden war. Dort legte er jenen Körper ab und wurde erneut als Zweimalgeborener (Brāhmaṇa) geboren, begabt mit der Erinnerung an frühere Leben.

mṛgatva-hetu-bhūtasyaof the deed that became the cause of deerhood
mṛgatva-hetu-bhūtasya:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of karmaṇaḥ)
TypeAdjective
Rootmṛgatva (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त; √bhū धातु, क्त)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (mṛgatvasya hetuḥ bhūtaḥ) qualifying karmaṇaḥ
karmaṇaḥof the action/deed
karmaṇaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; governed by niṣkṛtim)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
niṣkṛtimexpiation, atonement
niṣkṛtim:
Karma (कर्म/Object of yayau)
TypeNoun
Rootniṣkṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
yayauwent to, attained
yayau:
Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
TypeVerb
Root√yā (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular, परस्मैपद
tatrathere
tatra:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/place)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottatra (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; adverb of place (देशवाचक)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय/and)
utsṛṣṭa-dehaḥhaving cast off the body
utsṛṣṭa-dehaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of asau/dvijaḥ)
TypeAdjective
Rootutsṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; ut-√sṛj धातु, क्त) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय (utsṛṣṭaḥ dehaḥ yasya/utsṛṣṭa-dehaḥ)
asauhe
asau:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
jajñewas born
jajñe:
Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
TypeVerb
Root√jan (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; आत्मनेपद
jāti-smaraḥone who remembers former births
jāti-smaraḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of dvijaḥ)
TypeNoun
Rootjāti (प्रातिपदिक) + smara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (jāteḥ smaraḥ = one who remembers births)
dvijaḥa Brahmin (twice-born)
dvijaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha Dharma context)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

It teaches that karma leading to lower birth can be purified through niṣkṛti (prāyaścitta), and that sincere purification supports a higher rebirth and clearer spiritual memory, aiding mokṣa-oriented life.

Though it speaks in karma language, it supports bhakti by emphasizing purification and detachment: abandoning the old body and past entanglements prepares the mind for steadier remembrance and God-centered living in the next birth.

It points to Dharma-śāstra-based prāyaścitta (expiatory discipline) and ritual correctness—practical application of Vedic injunctions governing purification and ethical restoration.