Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

शमादिगुणसंयुक्तं रागादिरहितं मुनिम् । शीर्णपर्णाशनं दृष्ट्वा वेदमालिर्ननाम तम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

śamādiguṇasaṃyuktaṃ rāgādirahitaṃ munim | śīrṇaparṇāśanaṃ dṛṣṭvā vedamālirnanāma tam || 37 ||

Translation

Als Vedamālī den Muni sah, ausgestattet mit Tugenden, die mit Śama, der inneren Ruhe, beginnen, frei von Rāga und dergleichen, und lebend von welken Blättern, verneigte er sich ehrfürchtig vor ihm.

Word by Word

• शमादिगुणसंयुक्तम्: endowed with virtues like calmness
• शमादिगुणसंयुक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śama-ādi-guṇa-saṃyukta (प्रातिपदिक; संयुक्त = √yuj क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त) ‘endowed with qualities beginning with tranquility’ qualifying मुनिम्

• रागादिरहितम्: free from passion and the like
• रागादिरहितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāga-ādi-rahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘free from passion etc.’ qualifying मुनिम्

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• शीर्णपर्णाशनम्: eating fallen leaves
• शीर्णपर्णाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīrṇa-parṇa-āśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘one whose food is fallen leaves’ qualifying मुनिम्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव)

• वेदमालिः: Veda-māli (one garlanded with the Vedas)
• वेदमालिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda-mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); proper name/title

• ननाम: bowed
• ननाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• तम्: to him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun referring to मुनिम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrator)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vedamāli
• Muni (sage)

FAQs

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

It defines the recognizable signs of a realized ascetic—inner serenity (śama), freedom from attachment (rāga), and simple living—prompting reverence from seekers like Vedamāli.

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

Bhakti is supported by inner purification: when attachment and agitation fall away and calm virtues arise, the devotee naturally honors saints and becomes fit for higher devotion and divine knowledge.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Rather than a technical Vedāṅga, the verse highlights practical dharma: sadācāra (right conduct) and the discipline of śamādi-guṇas, which are foundational for study, mantra-practice, and any ritual life.