Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37
Saṃsāra-duḥkha: Karmic Descent, Garbhavāsa, Life’s Anxieties, Death, and the Call to Jñāna-Bhakti
ततश्च हस्तपादाकर्षणे न तु क्षमो रुद्रद्भिबंधुजनैर्वेष्टितो वक्तुमक्षमः स्वार्जितधनादिकं कस्य भविष्यतीति चिंतापरो बाष्पाविलविलोचनः कंठे वुरघुरायमाणे सति शरीरान्निष्क्रांतप्राणो यमदूतैर्भर्त्स्यमानः पाशयंत्रितो नरकादीन्पूर्ववदश्नुते ॥ ३७ ॥
tataśca hastapādākarṣaṇe na tu kṣamo rudradbhibaṃdhujanairveṣṭito vaktumakṣamaḥ svārjitadhanādikaṃ kasya bhaviṣyatīti ciṃtāparo bāṣpāvilavilocanaḥ kaṃṭhe vuraghurāyamāṇe sati śarīrānniṣkrāṃtaprāṇo yamadūtairbhartsyamānaḥ pāśayaṃtrito narakādīnpūrvavadaśnute || 37 ||
Puis, ne pouvant même plus supporter qu’on lui tire les mains et les pieds, entouré de proches en pleurs et incapable de parler, il demeure absorbé par l’inquiétude : «À qui reviendront mes richesses et mes biens acquis par moi-même ?» Ses yeux se brouillent de larmes; sa gorge râle; et lorsque le souffle vital quitte le corps, il est réprimandé par les messagers de Yama, lié et entravé par leur lasso, et il subit les enfers et autres tourments comme il a été dit auparavant.
Narada (teaching in dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara lineage context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It warns that clinging to self-earned wealth and family ties at death intensifies fear and confusion, while the departing soul must face Yama’s judgment according to karma; therefore, one should cultivate detachment and dharma before death arrives.
By showing the helplessness of worldly attachments at the final moment, the verse indirectly urges reliance on remembrance of the Divine rather than possessions—supporting the bhakti principle that only spiritual refuge, not property, accompanies the soul.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (dharma) and preparation for death through right living and reduced attachment.