Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court

Devanagari script

स तामप्सरसं दृष्ट्वा रूपेणान्येनसंवृताम् । स्मरराजेनानुगतः सर्वगात्रातिगेन ह ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

sa tāmapsarasaṃ dṛṣṭvā rūpeṇānyenasaṃvṛtām | smararājenānugataḥ sarvagātrātigena ha || 22 ||

Translation

Als er jene Apsaras sah, die in einer anderen Gestalt verborgen war, wurde er vom König der Begierde, Kāma (Smara), verfolgt, der rasch alle seine Glieder durchdrang.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• अप्सरसम्: apsaras (celestial nymph)
• अप्सरसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having seen)

• रूपेण: by/with (a) form
• रूपेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sg.)

• अन्येन: another/different
• अन्येन: Karana (करण/Instrument-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sg.); ‘रूपेण’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• संवृताम्: covered/veiled
• संवृताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); ‘ताम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• स्मर-राजेन: by the king of love (Kāma)
• स्मर-राजेन: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (determinative); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sg.)

• अनुगतः: followed/overcome
• अनुगतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); ‘सः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सर्व-गात्र-अतिगेन: by (him) who pervades all limbs (i.e., all-pervading love)
• सर्व-गात्र-अतिगेन: Hetu (हेतु/Cause-qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अतिग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sg.); ‘स्मरराजेन’ इत्यस्य विशेषणवत् (instrumental qualifier)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); खलु/एव/इति भावे (emphasis/indeed)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Moksha-Dharma discourse, traditionally relayed in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Apsaras
• Smara (Kama)

FAQs

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

It highlights how desire (Kāma/Smara) can seize a person the moment the mind engages with an alluring appearance, stressing vigilance and detachment as foundations for mokṣa.

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

By showing the speed with which kāma spreads through the senses, it implicitly points to bhakti as a counter-force: keeping the mind absorbed in the Lord rather than in attractive forms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught directly; the practical takeaway is psychological discipline (indriya-nigraha and manonigraha) used in dharma and yoga-oriented practice.