Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Sṛṣṭi-varṇana, Bhārata-khaṇḍa-mahātmya, and Jagad-bhūgola

Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography

Devanagari script

शुभं कर्म समुत्सृज्य दुष्कर्माणि करोति यः । कामधेनुं परित्यज्य अर्कक्षीरं सं मार्गति ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

śubhaṃ karma samutsṛjya duṣkarmāṇi karoti yaḥ | kāmadhenuṃ parityajya arkakṣīraṃ saṃ mārgati || 68 ||

Translation

Quien abandona las obras auspiciosas y comete actos pecaminosos es como aquel que deja a Kāmadhenu, la vaca que concede deseos, y va a buscar la savia lechosa de la planta arka.

Word by Word

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)

• karma: deed; action
• karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• samutsṛjya: having abandoned
• samutsṛjya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया), active sense

• duṣkarmāṇi: evil deeds
• duṣkarmāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣ-karman (प्रातिपदिक; duṣ + karman)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• karoti: does
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• kāmadhenum: Kāmadhenu (wish-fulfilling cow)
• kāmadhenum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma-dhenu (प्रातिपदिक; kāma + dhenu)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• parityajya: having forsaken
• parityajya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• arkakṣīram: milk of arka (a bitter/poisonous plant)
• arkakṣīram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arka-kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक; arka + kṣīra)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• sam: completely; well
• sam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam (अव्यय)
• Form: Upasarga/particle (उपसर्ग/निपात); here intensifier with verb

• mārgati: seeks
• mārgati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mṛg/√mārg (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Kāmadhenu

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka (discernment): rejecting śubha-karma for duṣkarma is self-defeating, like abandoning a true source of nourishment and benefit for an inferior, deceptive substitute.

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

Bhakti is sustained by sāttvika conduct—truthfulness, compassion, purity, and restraint. Choosing duṣkarma weakens the heart’s fitness for devotion, whereas śubha karma supports a steady, God-oriented life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught; the verse functions as nīti-śikṣā (ethical instruction) using a clear upamā (analogy) to reinforce correct choice of action (karma-viveka).