Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

आत्मानं दर्शयामास जडोन्मत्ताकृतिं जने । भुंक्ते कुल्माषवटकान् शाकं त्रन्यफलं कणान् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

ātmānaṃ darśayāmāsa jaḍonmattākṛtiṃ jane | bhuṃkte kulmāṣavaṭakān śākaṃ tranyaphalaṃ kaṇān || 40 ||

Translation

Er zeigte sich den Menschen in der Gestalt eines Tölpels oder eines Wahnsinnigen; und er lebte von grober Kost — Klößen aus gekochtem Korn, Grünzeug, wilden Früchten und verstreuten Bissen.

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• दर्शयामास: showed, displayed
• दर्शयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिजन्त (causative) ‘made (others) see/showed’

• जड-उन्मत्त-आकृतिम्: a form/appearance of a dull madman
• जड-उन्मत्त-आकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जड (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्मत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/बहुपद-विशेषणसमासः (जडा च उन्मत्ता च या आकृतिः)

• जने: among people
• जने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in/among people)

• भुङ्क्ते: eats
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• कुल्माष-वटकान्: balls/cakes of kulmāṣa (pulses)
• कुल्माष-वटकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल्माष (प्रातिपदिक) + वटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कुल्माषस्य वटकाः)

• शाकम्: greens, vegetables
• शाकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• त्रन्य-फलम्: fruit of ‘tranya’ (a plant; uncertain)
• त्रन्य-फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रन्य (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (त्रन्यस्य फलम्); ‘त्रन्य’ शब्दः दुर्लभः/पाठान्तरसम्भवः

• कणान्: grains, particles
• कणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It highlights radical detachment: the realized person may conceal inner illumination by adopting an ordinary or even ‘mad’ outward appearance, while sustaining the body with minimal, simple food—showing freedom from social approval and sensory luxury.

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

By reducing ego-display and worldly dependence, the seeker becomes inwardly steady; such humility and simplicity protect single-pointed remembrance of the Lord, a key support for mature Vishnu-bhakti even when outwardly unnoticed.

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-dharmic discipline—moderation in food (āhāra-niyama) and non-attachment to social identity, used as aids to moksha.