Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

तापत्रयाभिधानेन बाध्यमानो हि मानवः । अन्यं क्रीडयितुं शक्तः कथं भवति सत्तमः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

tāpatrayābhidhānena bādhyamāno hi mānavaḥ | anyaṃ krīḍayituṃ śaktaḥ kathaṃ bhavati sattamaḥ || 72 ||

Translation

Pues el ser humano, cuando es afligido por lo que se llama la triple miseria, ¿cómo puede—oh el mejor de los buenos—tener fuerza para juguetear o burlarse de otro?

Word by Word

• tāpa-traya-abhidhānena: by (what is) called the threefold suffering
• tāpa-traya-abhidhānena: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpa + traya + abhidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध): ‘by the designation/name of the three afflictions’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) ‘abhidhāna’, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bādhyamānaḥ: being afflicted
• bādhyamānaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bādh (धातु)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्/लट्-कर्मणि), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies मानवः

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/causal particle (निपात)

• mānavaḥ: a human being
• mānavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• anyam: another person
• anyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• krīḍayitum: to toy with/torment (as play)
• krīḍayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमुन्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: krīḍ (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to play with/to toy with’

• śaktaḥ: able
• śaktaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective of मानवः

• katham: how
• katham: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-अव्यय)

• bhavati: becomes/is
• bhavati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sattamaḥ: a best (noble) person
• sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicative noun (‘a best man’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It highlights the universality of suffering (tāpatraya) and urges compassion: since all beings are pressured by misery, making sport of others is spiritually degrading and contrary to dharma.

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

By discouraging cruelty and mockery, it supports the bhakti foundation of dayā (compassion) and humility—qualities necessary for sincere remembrance and service of Bhagavan rather than ego-driven behavior.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught; the verse instead uses the classical sāṃkhya-like framework of tāpatraya as a practical lens for ethical self-discipline and right conduct.