Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

Hari-nāma Mahimā and Caraṇāmṛta: The Redemption of the Hunter Gulika

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

सुजनो न याति वैरं परहितबुद्धिर्वनाशकालेऽपि । छेदेऽपि चंदनतरुः सुरभयति मुखं कुठारस्य ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

sujano na yāti vairaṃ parahitabuddhirvanāśakāle'pi | chede'pi caṃdanataruḥ surabhayati mukhaṃ kuṭhārasya || 35 ||

Translation

Der wahrhaft Gute verfällt nicht in Feindschaft; sein Sinn ist auf das Wohl anderer gerichtet, selbst zur Stunde des eigenen Untergangs. Wie der Sandelbaum: selbst gefällt, beduftet er noch das Antlitz der Axt.

Word by Word

• सुजनः: a good person
• सुजनः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सु-जनः = good person)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• याति: goes/enters into
• याति: क्रिया (Verb action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वैरम्: enmity
• वैरम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पर-हित-बुद्धिः: one whose intent is others’ welfare
• पर-हित-बुद्धिः: विशेषण (Qualifier of सुजनः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (धा-धातु, क्त-कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिकवत्) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (परस्य हिते बुद्धिः यस्य) विशेषणरूपेण सुजनस्य

• वन-आश-कालॆ: at the time of the forest’s destruction
• वन-आश-कालॆ: अधिकरण (Time/अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + आश (अश्-धातु/प्रातिपदिक; ‘नाश’ अर्थे) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वनस्य नाशः तस्य कालः)

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (even/also)

• छेदे: in the cutting
• छेदे: अधिकरण (Occasion/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• चन्दन-तरुः: the sandalwood tree
• चन्दन-तरुः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + तरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (चन्दनस्य तरुः)

• सुरभयति: makes fragrant
• सुरभयति: क्रिया (Verb action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सुरभि (नामधातु/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; नामधातु-प्रयोगः (सुरभि + णिच्/अय)

• मुखम्: face/mouth
• मुखम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुठारस्य: of the axe
• कुठारस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुठार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada through ethical exempla)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It defines the mark of a sujana: unwavering goodwill and non-retaliation even when harmed, turning suffering into a vehicle for dharma rather than vengeance.

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

Bhakti is strengthened by purity of heart—kṣamā (forbearance), ahiṁsā, and parahita-buddhi—so the devotee responds to injury with compassion, not hatred, reflecting the sattvic ideal praised in Purāṇic teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it is a dharma-nīti instruction emphasizing disciplined speech and conduct (sadācāra), which supports all śāstric study and ritual life.