Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Śokanivāraṇa: Non-brooding, Impermanence, Contentment, and Śuka’s Renunciation

Devanagari script

अनित्यं जीवितं रूपं यौवनं द्रव्यसञ्चयः । आरोग्यं प्रियसंवासं न मृध्येत्पंडितः क्वचित् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

anityaṃ jīvitaṃ rūpaṃ yauvanaṃ dravyasañcayaḥ | ārogyaṃ priyasaṃvāsaṃ na mṛdhyetpaṃḍitaḥ kvacit || 12 ||

Translation

命は無常であり、容姿も若さも、蓄えた財も、健康も、愛する者との同居もまた無常である。これを知る賢者は、いずれによっても迷わない。

Word by Word

• अनित्यम्: impermanent
• अनित्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); विशेषण

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• रूपम्: form; beauty
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• यौवनम्: youth
• यौवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• द्रव्यसञ्चयः: accumulation of wealth
• द्रव्यसञ्चयः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सञ्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative)

• आरोग्यम्: health
• आरोग्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरोग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• प्रियसंवासम्: pleasant companionship
• प्रियसंवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + संवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular); कर्मधारय (descriptive)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• मृध्येत्: should contend/strive; should quarrel (for)
• मृध्येत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Optative, Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular)

• पण्डितः: a wise person
• पण्डितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• क्वचित्: ever; at any time
• क्वचित्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time/place)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It grounds Moksha-Dharma in viveka (discernment): recognizing the fleeting nature of life, body, prosperity, health, and relationships, one cultivates vairagya (dispassion) and turns toward lasting spiritual realization.

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

By weakening dependence on impermanent supports, the mind becomes fit to seek an enduring refuge—Bhagavan—so devotion matures from need-based attachment into steady bhakti rooted in clarity and non-delusion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual discipline: maintain constant awareness of anitya (impermanence) to prevent moha and strengthen sadhana.