Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

तथा प्राप्तनि दुःखानि किमर्थमिह दुःखिताः । विचारयध्वं यूयं तु युष्माभिश्चारितं पुरा ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

tathā prāptani duḥkhāni kimarthamiha duḥkhitāḥ | vicārayadhvaṃ yūyaṃ tu yuṣmābhiścāritaṃ purā || 50 ||

Translation

Puisque de telles souffrances vous sont advenues, pourquoi vous affligez-vous ici ? Réfléchissez tous : cela fut accompli par vous-mêmes jadis.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/प्रकार-निर्देशः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• प्राप्तानि: obtained, come upon
• प्राप्तानि: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त (कृदन्त; √आप्/आप्नोति धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with दुःखानि)

• दुःखानि: sufferings, pains
• दुःखानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Hetu (हेतुः/प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (interrogative pronoun used with अर्थम्)

• अर्थम्: purpose, reason
• अर्थम्: Hetu (हेतुः/प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इह: here, in this world
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• दुःखिताः: afflicted, sorrowful
• दुःखिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखित (कृदन्त; √खिद् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त/विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (addressing ‘you’)

• विचारयध्वम्: reflect, consider
• विचारयध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

• यूयम्: you (plural)
• यूयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/वाक्य-सम्बन्धकः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• युष्माभिः: by you, through you
• युष्माभिः: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, बहुवचन (instrumental)

• चारितम्: conduct, deed done
• चारितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारित (कृदन्त; √चर् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP) used substantively, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly, earlier
• पुरा: Kala (कालः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing the assembled sages/brothers in counsel)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It urges viveka (discernment): present sorrow is linked to one’s own prior karma, so grief should be replaced with reflection and inner correction.

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

By reducing blame and despair through karmic understanding, the mind becomes steadier and more receptive to sincere bhakti—turning from lamentation to remembrance and right conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is ethical causality (karma-vicāra) rather than a specific Vedanga technique; it supports disciplined conduct that underlies all śāstric study and ritual life.