Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Śokanivāraṇa: Non-brooding, Impermanence, Contentment, and Śuka’s Renunciation

Devanagari script

प्राणिनां प्राणसंरोधे मांसश्लेष्मविचेष्टितम् । निर्दग्धं परदेहेन परदेंहं बलाबलम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

prāṇināṃ prāṇasaṃrodhe māṃsaśleṣmaviceṣṭitam | nirdagdhaṃ paradehena paradeṃhaṃ balābalam || 49 ||

Translation

Quand le souffle vital (prāṇa) des êtres est entravé, le corps—mû par la seule chair et le flegme—se débat encore; puis, par un autre corps (forces extérieures et autres incarnés), ce corps est consumé, révélant que sa force comme sa faiblesse dépendent d’un autre corps.

Word by Word

• प्राणिनाम्: of living beings
• प्राणिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• प्राण-संरोधे: in the constriction of breath/life
• प्राण-संरोधे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + संरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘in the restraint/obstruction of breath/life’)

• मांस-श्लेष्म-विचेष्टितम्: the agitation of flesh and phlegm
• मांस-श्लेष्म-विचेष्टितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + श्लेष्मन्/श्लेष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + विचेष्टित (कृदन्त; वि-√चेष्ट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘the writhing/movement of flesh and phlegm’); here as a neuter nominal/participle used substantively

• निर्दग्धम्: burnt up, scorched
• निर्दग्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्दग्ध (कृदन्त; निर्-√दह्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• परदेहेन: by another body
• परदेहेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘by another’s body’)

• परदेहम्: another body
• परदेहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘another body’)

• बल-अबलम्: strength and weakness
• बल-अबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (‘strength and weakness’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It highlights vairāgya (dispassion) by showing that embodied life is fragile: when prāṇa is obstructed, the body’s struggles are merely material, and its power is ultimately dependent on external forces—so one should seek the imperishable Self rather than rely on bodily strength.

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

By exposing the unreliability of the body and worldly power, the verse turns the seeker toward śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in the Lord; bhakti becomes the stable support when physical strength and circumstances are governed by forces beyond one’s control.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly aligns with āyur-vedic and prāṇa-centered understanding (though not a Vedāṅga proper): controlling and preserving prāṇa is crucial for embodied life, yet the verse stresses that such bodily knowledge is limited for attaining mokṣa without higher spiritual realization.