Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

श्रृणोति कथितं जीवः कर्णाभ्यांन श्रृणोति तत् । महर्षे मनसि व्यग्रे तस्माज्जीवो निरर्थकः ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

śrṛṇoti kathitaṃ jīvaḥ karṇābhyāṃna śrṛṇoti tat | maharṣe manasi vyagre tasmājjīvo nirarthakaḥ || 34 ||

Translation

Le jīva entend ce qui est dit, et pourtant il ne l’entend pas véritablement par les oreilles ; ô grand ṛṣi, lorsque l’esprit est troublé, l’être vivant devient incapable de tout dessein véritable.

Word by Word

• शृणोति: he hears
• शृणोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• कथितम्: what is said/told
• कथितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); (वस्तु) इति कर्मरूपेण

• जीवः: the jīva
• जीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• कर्णाभ्याम्: with (both) ears
• कर्णाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• शृणोति: he hears
• शृणोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• महर्षे: O great sage
• महर्षे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मनसि: in the mind
• मनसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्यग्रे: when (it is) distracted/agitated
• व्यग्रे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); मनसि इति विशेषण

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘therefore/from that’)

• जीवः: the jīva
• जीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• निरर्थकः: meaningless/purposeless
• निरर्थकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरर्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); जीवः इति विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as ‘maharṣe’)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that mere physical hearing of scripture is not real śravaṇa; without a collected mind, teachings do not enter the heart, and spiritual effort becomes fruitless.

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

Bhakti begins with attentive listening to the Lord’s names and teachings; if the mind wanders, even hearing kīrtana or kathā yields little transformation, so focus is essential for devotion to mature.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes the discipline behind śravaṇa and mantra-prayoga: correct practice is not only sound (śikṣā) but also sustained attention; otherwise recitation and listening fail to produce intended results.