Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

ते चापि विविधा वैद्याः कुशला संमतौषधाः । व्याधिभिः परिकृष्यंते मृगा ज्याघ्रैरिवार्दिताः ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

te cāpi vividhā vaidyāḥ kuśalā saṃmatauṣadhāḥ | vyādhibhiḥ parikṛṣyaṃte mṛgā jyāghrairivārditāḥ || 59 ||

Translation

Même ces nombreux médecins — habiles et dont les remèdes sont reconnus — sont eux aussi entraînés vers le bas par les maladies, tels des cerfs harcelés par des tigres.

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphasis/inclusion particle

• vividhāḥ: various
• vividhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• vaidyāḥ: doctors
• vaidyāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• kuśalāḥ: skilled
• kuśalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• saṃmata-auṣadhāḥ: having approved medicines
• saṃmata-auṣadhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃmata (सम्मत प्रातिपदिक) + auṣadha (औषध प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi compound: 'those whose medicines are approved/recognized'; Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• vyādhibhiḥ: by diseases
• vyādhibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana

• parikṛṣyante: are dragged down/tormented
• parikṛṣyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + √kṛṣ (कृष् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana, Ātmanepada; passive-like sense 'are dragged/are afflicted'

• mṛgāḥ: animals, deer
• mṛgāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• vyāghraiḥ: by tigers
• vyāghraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-sūcaka (उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (comparison particle)

• ārditāḥ: afflicted, tormented
• ārditāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ard (अर्द् धातु) + ārdita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (past passive participle), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It highlights the inherent vulnerability of embodied life: even experts who heal others cannot escape disease, urging detachment from overreliance on worldly supports and turning toward liberation-oriented practice.

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

By showing that material remedies are limited, the verse indirectly points to taking shelter in the Divine (especially Vishnu-centered bhakti in Moksha-Dharma sections) as the deeper refuge when bodily conditions remain uncertain.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ayurvedic medical expertise is referenced (vaidyāḥ, auṣadha), but the takeaway is its limitation in samsara—technical skill alone cannot guarantee freedom from vyādhi; spiritual discipline aimed at moksha is implied as higher.