Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

Sṛṣṭi-varṇana, Bhārata-khaṇḍa-mahātmya, and Jagad-bhūgola

Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography

Devanagari script

संप्राप्य भारते जन्म सत्कर्म सुपराङ्मुखः । पीयूषकलशं सुक्त्वा विषभाण्डमुपाश्रितः ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

saṃprāpya bhārate janma satkarma suparāṅmukhaḥ | pīyūṣakalaśaṃ suktvā viṣabhāṇḍamupāśritaḥ || 65 ||

Translation

Wer in Bhārata geboren wird und sich doch vom Satkarma, vom rechten Tun, abwendet, gleicht einem, der einen Krug Nektar wegwirft und stattdessen Zuflucht bei einem Gefäß voll Gift sucht.

Word by Word

• saṃprāpya: having obtained/reached
• saṃprāpya: Purvakalika Kriya (Action/पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-pra-āp (धातु)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Gerund/Absolutive)

• bhārate: in India
• bhārate: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• janma: birth
• janma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• satkarma: good deeds
• satkarma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (Contextually linked to aversion)

• suparāṅmukhaḥ: completely averse/turning away
• suparāṅmukhaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suparāṅmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• pīyūṣakalaśam: pot of nectar
• pīyūṣakalaśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīyūṣakalaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• suktvā: having abandoned/left
• suktvā: Purvakalika Kriya (Action/पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muc/tyaj (presumed typo for muktvā/tyaktvā)
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya (Gerund); Likely scribal error for muktvā

• viṣabhāṇḍam: vessel of poison
• viṣabhāṇḍam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣabhāṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• upāśritaḥ: resorted to/taken shelter in
• upāśritaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Past Passive Participle (Kta)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Bharata (Bhārata-varṣa)

FAQs

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

It teaches that birth in Bhārata is a rare dharmic opportunity; rejecting satkarma wastes that gift and leads one toward harmful, spiritually destructive choices.

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

Though bhakti is not named here, the verse sets its foundation: choosing dharma and good conduct supports devotion, while turning away from satkarma undermines spiritual life like choosing poison over nectar.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is dharma-oriented karma (right action). No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is directly discussed in this verse, but it reinforces the Vedic principle that conduct (ācāra) safeguards spiritual progress.