Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Sṛṣṭi-varṇana, Bhārata-khaṇḍa-mahātmya, and Jagad-bhūgola

Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography

Devanagari script

अद्यापि देवा इच्छन्ति जन्म भारतभूतले । संचितं सुमहत्पुण्यमक्षय्यममलं शुभम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

adyāpi devā icchanti janma bhāratabhūtale | saṃcitaṃ sumahatpuṇyamakṣayyamamalaṃ śubham || 49 ||

Translation

今なお諸天はバーラタの地に生まれることを願う。そこでは、尽きることなく、汚れなき、吉祥なる、きわめて大いなる功徳を積むことができるからである。

Word by Word

• adya: Today
• adya: Adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (Time)

• api: Even / Also
• api: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• devāḥ: The Gods
• devāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• icchanti: They desire / wish for
• icchanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present Tense (Lat/लट्), Active, 3rd Person, Plural

• janma: Birth
• janma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• bhāratabhūtale: On the surface/land of Bharata
• bhāratabhūtale: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāratabhūtala (bhārata+bhūtala)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• saṃcitam: Accumulated
• saṃcitam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam+ci (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (kta/क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• sumahat: Very great
• sumahat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sumahat (su+mahat)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• puṇyam: Merit / Virtue
• puṇyam: Karma (Object/कर्म) implied
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• akṣayyam: Imperishable / Undecaying
• akṣayyam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣayya (a+kṣayya)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• amalam: Pure / Spotless
• amalam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala (a+mala)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śubham: Auspicious
• śubham: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Bharata

FAQs

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

It elevates human birth in Bhārata as uniquely powerful for sādhanā: actions rooted in dharma and devotion can yield akṣaya (inexhaustible) and amala (purifying) merit, making this realm especially favorable for liberation-oriented progress.

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

By implying that Bhārata is the prime field for auspicious, purifying practice, it supports the Purāṇic view that embodied life enables concrete bhakti—worship, vows, and service—which can generate enduring spiritual merit beyond celestial enjoyments.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the practical principle of karma-phala (results of action): merit can be “accumulated” through prescribed dharmic conduct and ritual discipline—an applied foundation for later Vedāṅga-based performance of rites (especially kalpa and correct practice).