Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

नेदं जन्म समासाद्य वैरं कुर्वीत केन चित् । आकिंचन्यं सुसंतोषो निराशिष्ट्वमचापलम् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

nedaṃ janma samāsādya vairaṃ kurvīta kena cit | ākiṃcanyaṃ susaṃtoṣo nirāśiṣṭvamacāpalam || 54 ||

Translation

Having attained this human birth, let one create enmity with none. Let one cultivate non-possessiveness, deep contentment, freedom from craving for fruits, and steady, unfickle firmness.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• janma: birth; life
• janma: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• samāsādya: having attained/obtained
• samāsādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having approached/attained’

• vairaṃ: enmity
• vairaṃ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• kurvīta: should do/make
• kurvīta: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• kena: by whom/with whom
• kena: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• cit: any (at all)
• cit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cit (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चितार्थक-अव्यय (indefinite particle), ‘ever/any’

• ākiṃcanyaṃ: non-possessiveness; poverty
• ākiṃcanyaṃ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā-kiṃcanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• su-saṃtoṣaḥ: good contentment
• su-saṃtoṣaḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + saṃtoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘good contentment’)

• nir-āśiṣṭvam: desirelessness; absence of wishes
• nir-āśiṣṭvam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + āśiṣṭva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (निर्- + आशिष्-त्व)

• a-cāpalam: steadiness; absence of fickleness
• a-cāpalam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a (नञ्) + cāpala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (‘non-restlessness’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It defines core Moksha-dharma qualities: do not generate hostility, and stabilize the mind through non-possessiveness, contentment, desirelessness, and steadiness—conditions that make liberation-oriented practice effective.

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

Bhakti matures when the heart is free from resentment and grasping; by avoiding enmity and expectations, devotion becomes steady (acapala) and less ego-driven, supporting single-pointed remembrance of the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught here; the verse emphasizes ethical and psychological discipline (sadachara and vairagya) as the practical foundation for higher spiritual practice.