Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

अभीषुण ऋतावाहं न्यषीदन्नृमणा अपि । चतुर्विधाद्बाहुलकात्प्रवृत्तेरप्रवृत्तितः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

abhīṣuṇa ṛtāvāhaṃ nyaṣīdannṛmaṇā api | caturvidhādbāhulakātpravṛtterapravṛttitaḥ || 18 ||

Translation

Même les sages, voyant le « courant des saisons », l’élan du temps, s’assoient en se maîtrisant ; car de l’action comme de l’inaction naît une multiplicité excessive, sous ses quatre formes.

Word by Word

• अभीषुण: abhīṣuṇa (a Vedic term/name)
• अभीषुण: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीषुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वैदिक/दुर्लभ-शब्द

• ऋतावाहम्: ṛtavāha (bearer of ṛta)
• ऋतावाहम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत (प्रातिपदिक) + वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—ऋतस्य वाहः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; कर्म-कारक-रूपे द्वितीया

• न्यषीदत्: sat down
• न्यषीदत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्गः नि-; रूपम्: न्य- + असीदत्/अषीदत् (वैदिक-प्रयोग)

• नृमणा: with/through nṛmaṇa (a Vedic term)
• नृमणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृमण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; वैदिक-रूप

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• चतुर्विधात्: from the fourfold (classification)
• चतुर्विधात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (चतुर् + विध) = ‘चार प्रकार’; अपादान-पञ्चमी

• बाहुलकात्: from (mere) abundance/irregularity
• बाहुलकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहुलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• प्रवृत्तेः: of application/usage
• प्रवृत्तेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अप्रवृत्तितः: due to non-application
• अप्रवृत्तितः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अप्रवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches discernment and restraint: both compulsive activity and rigid inactivity can generate bondage through proliferating consequences; the wise pause and regulate themselves in view of time’s momentum.

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

By warning against extremes, it supports steady devotional discipline: regulated living and inner restraint help keep the mind fit for Vishnu-bhakti rather than being scattered by restless doing or prideful withdrawal.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A time-sense (ṛtu/time-flow) relevant to Jyotiṣa-style timing and ritual discipline is implied: knowing the ‘current of time’ supports proper regulation of conduct and observances rather than indiscriminate activity.