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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

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

अप्राप्य एष काम्य गुणविशेषो न चैनमभिशीलयंति । तपसि श्रूयते त्रिलोककृद्ब्रह्मा प्रभुरेकाकी तिष्टति ब्रह्मचारी न कामसुखोष्वात्मानमवदधाति ॥ ९१ ॥

aprāpya eṣa kāmya guṇaviśeṣo na cainamabhiśīlayaṃti | tapasi śrūyate trilokakṛdbrahmā prabhurekākī tiṣṭati brahmacārī na kāmasukhoṣvātmānamavadadhāti || 91 ||

Cette qualité d’exception, recherchée par des buts mus par le désir, n’est pas atteinte; et l’on ne la cultive pas véritablement. Dans la tradition de l’austérité, on entend que Brahmā—seigneur créateur des trois mondes—demeure seul en brahmacārī, et ne pose pas son esprit sur les plaisirs nés du kāma.

aprāpyawithout obtaining
aprāpya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roota- + √āp + lyap (आप् धातु + ल्यप्)
Formल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव-रूप (gerund/absolutive), नकारार्थक-उपसर्ग ‘अ-’; अर्थ: ‘प्राप्य’ = having obtained; ‘अप्राप्य’ = without obtaining
eṣaḥthis (one)
eṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
kāmyaḥdesirable
kāmyaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (desirable/desired)
guṇa-viśeṣaḥa particular quality/attribute
guṇa-viśeṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootguṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (विशेषण-विशेष्यभाव: ‘गुणस्य विशेषः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)
enamhim/this one
enam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (enam = him/this one)
abhiśīlayantithey practise/cultivate
abhiśīlayanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootabhi-√śīl (शील् धातु, denominative/causative sense)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: अभि; अर्थ: practise/cultivate/observe
tapasiin austerity
tapasi:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Roottapas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन
śrūyateis heard/is said
śrūyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√śru (श्रु धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is heard/it is said’
triloka-kṛtcreator of the three worlds
triloka-kṛt:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roottri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛt (कृत्-प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (‘त्रिलोकं करोति’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः विशेषण
brahmāBrahmā
brahmā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन
prabhuḥthe Lord/master
prabhuḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootprabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (apposition to brahmā)
ekākīalone
ekākī:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rooteka (प्रातिपदिक) + ākī/ākin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय-समास (‘एकः आकी’ = alone), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण
tiṣṭhatistands/remains
tiṣṭhati:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√sthā (स्था धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
brahmacārīa celibate/student of Brahman
brahmacārī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (apposition)
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय
kāma-sukheṣuin pleasures of desire
kāma-sukheṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootkāma (प्रातिपदिक) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (‘कामस्य सुखानि’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन
ātmānamhimself/the self
ātmānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootātman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
avadadhātihe applies/attaches (himself)
avadadhāti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootava-√dhā (धा धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: अव; अर्थ: place/apply/attach (mind/self)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

B
Brahma

FAQs

It teaches that true spiritual excellence is not gained by chasing desire-based goals; it is cultivated through tapas and brahmacarya—turning the mind away from kāma-sukha and toward inner steadiness that supports moksha.

By warning against fixing the mind on sense-pleasures, the verse sets the prerequisite for steady bhakti: when desire subsides through restraint and austerity, the heart becomes fit for one-pointed remembrance and loving devotion to the Supreme.

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline—brahmacarya and tapas—as foundational sādhanā that supports all Vedic study and ritual purity.