Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

सुकर्मवासनाहीनो मातापित्रोर्विरोधकृत् । एकदा बंधुभिस्त्यक्तः शोकसंतापपीडितः ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

sukarmavāsanāhīno mātāpitrorvirodhakṛt | ekadā baṃdhubhistyaktaḥ śokasaṃtāpapīḍitaḥ || 39 ||

Translation

Dénué de tout élan vers les actes vertueux et agissant à l’encontre de sa mère et de son père, il fut un jour abandonné par ses proches et tourmenté par le chagrin et une brûlante affliction.

Word by Word

• सु-कर्म-वासनाहीनः: devoid of good-karma impressions
• सु-कर्म-वासनाहीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वासना (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—(कर्मवासनया हीनः) तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

• माता-पित्रोः: of (his) mother and father
• माता-पित्रोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; ‘of mother and father’

• विरोध-कृत्: one who causes opposition/conflict
• विरोध-कृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरोध (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) → कृत् (कृदन्त, कर्तरि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—‘कृत्’ (कर्तरि), समासः—विरोधं करोति इति; विशेषणवत् प्रयोगः

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• बन्धुभिः: by (his) relatives
• बन्धुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• त्यक्तः: abandoned
• त्यक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यज् (धातु) → त्यक्त (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• शोक-संताप-पीडितः: afflicted by grief and distress
• शोक-संताप-पीडितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + संताप (प्रातिपदिक) + पीडित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—(शोकेन संतापेन च पीडितः) तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue with the Sanatkumara brothers, narrative instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

FAQs

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

It highlights how the absence of sukṛta-vāsanā (a cultivated tendency toward good deeds) and violation of core dharma—especially reverence toward parents—naturally ripens into suffering, social isolation, and intense inner turmoil.

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

By depicting the misery produced by adharmic conduct, the verse sets the ground for bhakti as a corrective path: turning from harmful vāsanās toward devotion and righteous living that purifies the heart and restores inner stability.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma-śikṣā—ethical discipline and right conduct (sadācāra) as the foundation for any ritual or spiritual practice.