Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

बालभावे च वार्द्धक्ये न घटेताच्युतार्चनम् । वयस्येव ततो धर्मान्कुरु त्वमनहङ्कृतः ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

bālabhāve ca vārddhakye na ghaṭetācyutārcanam | vayasyeva tato dharmānkuru tvamanahaṅkṛtaḥ || 30 ||

Translation

Dans l’enfance et dans la vieillesse, l’adoration d’Acyuta (Vishnu) ne s’accomplit pas pleinement. Ainsi, tant que tu es dans la jeunesse, accomplis tes devoirs de dharma, sans orgueil.

Word by Word

• bālabhāve: In childhood
• bālabhāve: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ca: And
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vārddhakye: In old age
• vārddhakye: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārddhakya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• na: Not
• na: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative Particle

• ghaṭeta: Is possible/Happens
• ghaṭeta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ghaṭ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Atmanepada, Prathama Purusha (3rd Person), Singular

• acyutārcanam: Worship of Acyuta (Vishnu)
• acyutārcanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyutārcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. (acyutasya arcanam - Shashthi Tatpurusha)

• vayasi: In youth/prime of life
• vayasi: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• eva: Only
• eva: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic Particle

• tataḥ: Therefore
• tataḥ: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• dharmān: Religious duties
• dharmān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• kuru: Do/Perform
• kuru: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative/लोट्), Parasmaipada, Madhyama Purusha (2nd Person), Singular

• tvam: You
• tvam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• anahaṅkṛtaḥ: Without ego/pride
• anahaṅkṛtaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anahaṅkṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. (na ahaṅkṛtaḥ - Nai Tatpurusha)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It urges timely spiritual practice: youth is presented as the most capable period for sustained Vishnu-worship and disciplined dharma, and it insists that practice be done with humility rather than ego.

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

Bhakti here is framed as Acyuta-arcana (Vishnu worship) that should be pursued when one has strength and steadiness, and it must be grounded in anahaṅkāra—devotion without self-importance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights sādhana-prayoga (practical application) rather than a specific Vedanga: the verse stresses proper timing and capacity for ritual worship and disciplined conduct, which supports effective daily religious observance.