Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

Devanagari script

एतच्छरीरं दुःखानां व्याधीनामयुतैर्वृतम् । सुखाभासं बहुक्लेशं कर्मपाशेन यन्त्रितम् ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

etaccharīraṃ duḥkhānāṃ vyādhīnāmayutairvṛtam | sukhābhāsaṃ bahukleśaṃ karmapāśena yantritam || 65 ||

Translation

Ce corps est entouré d’innombrables souffrances et maladies ; il n’offre qu’un semblant de bonheur, est rempli de multiples afflictions et demeure entravé par le nœud du karma.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘this’ (qualifying शरीरम्)

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• दुःखानाम्: of sorrows
• दुःखानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• व्याधीनाम्: of diseases
• व्याधीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अयुतैः: by thousands
• अयुतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (संख्यावाचक-शब्द), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘by thousands’

• वृतम्: covered; surrounded
• वृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थे ‘covered/surrounded’

• सुखाभासम्: a mere appearance of happiness
• सुखाभासम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + आभास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: सुखस्य आभासः (‘semblance of happiness’)

• बहुक्लेशम्: full of many troubles
• बहुक्लेशम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: बहवः क्लेशाः यस्मिन् (‘much-afflicted’)

• कर्मपाशेन: by the bond of karma
• कर्मपाशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म + पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कर्मणः पाशः (‘bond of karma’)

• यन्त्रितम्: restrained
• यन्त्रितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यन्त्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘restrained/controlled’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a didactic dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It cultivates vairāgya (dispassion) by portraying embodiment as inherently fragile and karma-bound, urging the seeker to pursue liberation rather than trusting bodily pleasures.

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

By exposing worldly सुखाभास (illusory happiness), it redirects the heart toward lasting refuge—Bhakti to the Supreme (commonly Vishnu in Narada Purana)—as a means to transcend karmic bondage.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual discipline—reducing attachment and acting in ways that loosen the karmapāśa.