Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34
Saṃsāra-duḥkha: Karmic Descent, Garbhavāsa, Life’s Anxieties, Death, and the Call to Jñāna-Bhakti
तथा वृद्धत्वमापन्नो हीयमानसारो जरापलितादिव्यात्पदेहो व्याधिबाध्यत्वादिकमापन्नः । प्रकंपमानावयवश्वासकासादिपीडितो लोलाविललोचनः श्लेष्मण्यात्पकंठः पुत्रदारादिभिर्भर्त्स्यमानः कदा मरणमुपयामीति चिंताकुलो मयि मृते सति मदर्जितं गृहक्षेत्रादिकं वस्तु पुत्रादयः कथं रक्षंति कस्य वा भविष्यति ॥ ३४ ॥
tathā vṛddhatvamāpanno hīyamānasāro jarāpalitādivyātpadeho vyādhibādhyatvādikamāpannaḥ | prakaṃpamānāvayavaśvāsakāsādipīḍito lolāvilalocanaḥ śleṣmaṇyātpakaṃṭhaḥ putradārādibhirbhartsyamānaḥ kadā maraṇamupayāmīti ciṃtākulo mayi mṛte sati madarjitaṃ gṛhakṣetrādikaṃ vastu putrādayaḥ kathaṃ rakṣaṃti kasya vā bhaviṣyati || 34 ||
Demikian pula ketika seseorang jatuh ke usia tua, kekuatan batinnya menyusut; tubuhnya melemah oleh derita usia—rambut memutih dan sebagainya—serta semakin tersiksa oleh penyakit. Anggota badan gemetar, sesak napas, batuk, dan gangguan lain menekan; mata gelisah dan tak mantap, tenggorokan tersumbat dahak; bahkan anak, istri, dan lainnya memarahinya. Diliputi cemas ia berpikir, “Kapan kematian datang? Dan setelah aku mati, bagaimana anak-anakku menjaga rumah, ladang, dan harta yang kuperoleh—atau akan menjadi milik siapa?”
Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition of instruction in Book 1.1)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It exposes the inevitable decline of the body and the mental anguish produced by attachment to family and property, urging the listener toward vairagya (detachment) and a higher, death-transcending pursuit of Dharma and devotion.
By highlighting the insecurity of worldly supports at the end of life, the verse indirectly points to taking refuge in the enduring—Bhagavan—since only devotion and spiritual practice provide steadiness when the body, relationships, and possessions cannot.
No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual: reduce possessiveness, plan life around Dharma, and cultivate daily remembrance/practice so that old age is not dominated by fear and property-anxiety.