Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

Śokanivāraṇa: Non-brooding, Impermanence, Contentment, and Śuka’s Renunciation

Devanagari script

वेदना नापकर्षंति यतमानास्चिकित्सकाः ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

vedanā nāpakarṣaṃti yatamānāscikitsakāḥ || 58 ||

Translation

Selbst wenn die Ärzte sich eifrig bemühen, vermögen sie den Schmerz nicht zu nehmen.

Word by Word

• vedanāḥ: pains, sufferings
• vedanāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya

• apakarṣanti: remove, draw away
• apakarṣanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa + √kṛṣ (कृष् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• yatamānāḥ: striving, making effort
• yatamānāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yat (यत् धातु) + yatamāna (कृदन्त, शानच्)
• Form: Śānac (present middle participle), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• cikitsakāḥ: physicians
• cikitsakāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cikitsaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada within Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It underscores that worldly remedies, even expert medical effort, may fail against suffering—pointing the seeker toward deeper causes like karma and toward Moksha-oriented discipline as the lasting remedy.

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

By highlighting the limits of external relief, the verse indirectly encourages taking refuge in the Divine through Bhakti—seeking inner steadiness and grace when material supports cannot fully remove duḥkha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects an applied understanding of cikitsā (healing) and its limits; the takeaway is discernment (viveka): use worldly sciences appropriately, but do not mistake them for the ultimate cure for saṃsāric suffering.