Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

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

Devanagari script

धर्मावनद्धं दुर्गंधिं पूर्णं मूत्रपुरीषयोः । जराशोकसमाविष्टं रोगायतनमस्थिरम् ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

dharmāvanaddhaṃ durgaṃdhiṃ pūrṇaṃ mūtrapurīṣayoḥ | jarāśokasamāviṣṭaṃ rogāyatanamasthiram || 78 ||

Translation

This body, bound by the notion of dharma, is foul-smelling, filled with urine and feces; engulfed by old age and sorrow, it is a dwelling-place of disease and is unstable.

Word by Word

• धर्म-अवनद्धम्: covered with dharma
• धर्म-अवनद्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अवनद्ध (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (धर्मेण अवनद्धम्—wrapped/covered by dharma)

• दुर्गन्धिम्: foul-smelling
• दुर्गन्धिम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्गन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूर्णम्: full
• पूर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मूत्र-पुरीषयोः: of urine and feces
• मूत्र-पुरीषयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (मूत्रं च पुरीषं च)

• जराः-शोक-समाविष्टम्: pervaded by old age and sorrow
• जराः-शोक-समाविष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जर (प्रातिपदिक) + शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + समाविष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः (जरया शोकैश्च समाविष्टम्—pervaded by old age and grief)

• रोग-आयतनम्: abode of disease
• रोग-आयतनम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक) + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (रोगाणाम् आयतनम्—abode of diseases)

• अस्थिरम्: unstable/impermanent
• अस्थिरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on Moksha-dharma and vairagya)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It cultivates vairagya by exposing the body’s inherent impurities, sickness, sorrow, and impermanence—turning the mind away from bodily identification toward moksha.

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

By weakening attachment to the body, it supports single-pointed devotion: when bodily pride and craving drop, the heart more easily takes refuge in the Lord with steadiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as a Moksha-dharma reflection (viveka/vairagya) rather than instruction in rituals, grammar, or astrology.