Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मः क्षमा च परमं बलम् । आत्मज्ञानं परं ज्ञानं सत्यं हि परमं हितम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

ānṛśaṃsyaṃ paro dharmaḥ kṣamā ca paramaṃ balam | ātmajñānaṃ paraṃ jñānaṃ satyaṃ hi paramaṃ hitam || 49 ||

Translation

La compassion est le dharma suprême ; le pardon est la force la plus haute. La connaissance du Soi (Ātman) est la connaissance suprême ; la véracité est, en vérité, le plus grand bien.

Word by Word

• ānṛśaṃsyam: non-cruelty, compassion
• ānṛśaṃsyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānṛśaṃsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (कर्तरि/उद्देश्ये), एकवचन; abstract noun (भाववाचक)

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (superior/highest)

• dharmaḥ: dharma, righteousness
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kṣamā: forbearance, forgiveness
• kṣamā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; abstract noun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• balam: strength
• balam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ātma-jñānam: knowledge of the Self
• ātma-jñānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ātmanas jñānam)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• satyam: truth
• satyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; abstract noun

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

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• hitam: welfare, good
• hitam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (हित = welfare/good)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It ranks core virtues as direct supports for moksha: compassion perfects dharma, forgiveness purifies inner power, Self-knowledge leads to liberation, and truth safeguards the highest welfare.

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

Bhakti is strengthened by character: compassion and forgiveness make devotion non-harming and steady, while truthfulness and Self-knowledge remove hypocrisy and ego, making worship sincere and transformative.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught here; the verse emphasizes foundational dharmic disciplines (satya, kṣamā, non-cruelty) that qualify a seeker for higher study, mantra-japa, and ritual purity.