Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

शूद्रस्त्रीसंगनिरता विधवासंगलोलुपाः । शूद्रान्नभोगनिरता भविष्यंति कलौ द्विजाः ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

śūdrastrīsaṃganiratā vidhavāsaṃgalolupāḥ | śūdrānnabhoganiratā bhaviṣyaṃti kalau dvijāḥ || 52 ||

Translation

Dans l’âge de Kali, les deux-fois-nés s’adonneront à la compagnie de femmes śūdra, convoiteront l’association avec des veuves et se complairont à manger la nourriture obtenue des śūdras.

Word by Word

• शूद्र-स्त्री-सङ्ग-निरताः: engaged in the company of Śūdra women
• शूद्र-स्त्री-सङ्ग-निरताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (कृदन्त; नि+रम्/रम् धातु से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; Nominative plural; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शूद्रस्त्रीणां सङ्गे निरताः)

• विधवा-सङ्ग-लोलुपाः: greedy for the company of widows
• विधवा-सङ्ग-लोलुपाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधवा (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + लोलुप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural; समासः—तत्पुरुष (fond of association with widows)

• शूद्र-अन्न-भोग-निरताः: engaged in consuming Śūdra food
• शूद्र-अन्न-भोग-निरताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural; समासः—तत्पुरुष (engaged in eating/enjoying Śūdra food)

• भविष्यन्ति: will become
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; they will become

• कलौ: in Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada about Kali-yuga signs)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kali-yuga
• Dvija
• Shudra

FAQs

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

It presents a Kali-yuga marker: erosion of dvija discipline (sadācāra) through improper associations and compromised dietary/ritual purity, indicating a broader decline of dharma.

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

By highlighting moral and ritual decay, it indirectly stresses the need for steadiness in sattvic conduct and sincere devotion to Bhagavan as a stabilizing refuge when social dharma weakens in Kali-yuga.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It most closely touches Kalpa (dharma/ritual conduct) through the implication of āhāra-śuddhi (purity of food) and rules of association that support vaidika discipline.