Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

Devanagari script

ऊष्मतो म्लायते पर्णं त्वक्फलं पुष्पमेव च । म्लायते शीर्यते चापि स्पर्शस्तेनात्र विद्यते ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

ūṣmato mlāyate parṇaṃ tvakphalaṃ puṣpameva ca | mlāyate śīryate cāpi sparśastenātra vidyate || 68 ||

Translation

From heat the leaf withers; so too the bark, the fruit, and the flower. They fade and even fall away—therefore, in this case, “touch” (sparśa) is understood as the causal factor.

Word by Word

• ūṣmataḥ: from heat
• ūṣmataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūṣman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mlāyate: withers
• mlāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mlā (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• parṇam: leaf
• parṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvak-phalam: bark-fruit (fruit of the bark)
• tvak-phalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvac (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'tvacaḥ phalam'

• puṣpam: flower
• puṣpam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• mlāyate: withers
• mlāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mlā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular

• śīryate: falls apart/decays
• śīryate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śṝ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), inclusion/emphasis

• sparśaḥ: touch (sense of touch)
• sparśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sparśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tena: by that/therefore
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• atra: here/in this case
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• vidyate: exists/is found
• vidyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular; existential usage

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Moksha-dharma discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It points to impermanence in the material world and identifies external contact/conditions (sparśa) as a cause for change and decay, supporting detachment and the pursuit of moksha.

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

By highlighting how perishable objects wither through contact and conditions, it encourages turning the mind away from transient sensory reliance and toward steady devotion to the imperishable Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga is taught directly; the verse is primarily philosophical (moksha-dharma), using a natural example to support sense-restraint and discernment.