Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 106

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

मनश्शुद्धिविहीना ये तीर्थयात्रां प्रकुर्वते । न तान्पुंनति तीर्थानि सुराभांडमिवापगा ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

manaśśuddhivihīnā ye tīrthayātrāṃ prakurvate | na tānpuṃnati tīrthāni surābhāṃḍamivāpagā || 6 ||

Translation

Wer ohne Reinheit des Geistes zu den Tīrthas pilgert, wird von den heiligen Stätten nicht gereinigt—so wie ein Fluss ein mit Alkohol gefülltes Gefäß nicht reinigen kann.

Word by Word

• मनः-शुद्धि-विहीनाः: those lacking mental purity
• मनः-शुद्धि-विहीनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—मनःशुद्धिः (षष्ठी) + मनःशुद्धिविहीनः ('devoid of purity of mind')

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• तीर्थ-यात्राम्: pilgrimage
• तीर्थ-यात्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'pilgrimage to sacred places'

• प्रकुर्वते: undertake
• प्रकुर्वते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; 'undertake/perform'

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; refers to 'those (people)'

• पुनाति: purifies
• पुनाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तीर्थानि: sacred places
• तीर्थानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; subject of पुनाति

• सुरा-भाण्डम्: a liquor pot
• सुरा-भाण्डम्: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (उपमान-प्रयोगे), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'a liquor vessel' (as the compared object)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक

• अपगा: a river
• अपगा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'river' (lit. 'water that goes'); subject in simile: 'a river (does not purify a liquor pot)'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It teaches that the true fruit of tīrtha-yātrā depends on antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (inner purity); without a purified mind, external sacred contact does not transform the person.

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

Bhakti is not merely outward observance; it requires sincerity, humility, and a purified mind. The verse implies that devotion-bearing purity is the real “tīrtha” that makes practices effective.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the practical principle behind ritual efficacy (kalpa-oriented conduct): external rites like pilgrimage must be supported by inner discipline and mental purification for dharmic results.