Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

मृतं वा यदि वा नष्टं योऽतीतमनुशोचति । दुःखेन लभते दुःखं महानर्थे प्रपद्यते ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

mṛtaṃ vā yadi vā naṣṭaṃ yo'tītamanuśocati | duḥkhena labhate duḥkhaṃ mahānarthe prapadyate || 8 ||

Translation

Ob jemand gestorben ist oder etwas verloren ging: Wer dem Vergangenen nachtrauert, gewinnt durch Leid nur weiteres Leid und gerät in großes Unheil.

Word by Word

• मृतम्: dead
• मृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक; √मृ धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (if)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• नष्टम्: lost, destroyed
• नष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √नश् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अतीतम्: the past
• अतीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अनुशोचति: grieves over
• अनुशोचति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु√शुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दुःखेन: with sorrow
• दुःखेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधन/करण (by/with sorrow)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• महानर्थे: in great misfortune
• महानर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; (अधिकरणे)

• प्रपद्यते: falls into, comes to
• प्रपद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the 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 teaches Moksha Dharma through vairāgya: clinging to the past (death or loss) perpetuates duḥkha, while releasing attachment prevents deeper anartha and supports inner freedom.

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

By discouraging obsessive lamentation, it redirects the mind from grief to remembrance of the Divine; steady bhakti requires a composed mind that does not continually sink into past-centered sorrow.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught; the practical takeaway is mental discipline (manonigraha) and discernment (viveka), which support study, japa, and dharmic conduct.