Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

Saṃsāra-duḥkha: Karmic Descent, Garbhavāsa, Life’s Anxieties, Death, and the Call to Jñāna-Bhakti

Devanagari script

कुत्सितं मांसरक्ताद्यैर्देहं संप्राप्य यो नरः । संसारच्छेदकं विष्णुं न भजेत्सोऽतिपातकी ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

kutsitaṃ māṃsaraktādyairdehaṃ saṃprāpya yo naraḥ | saṃsāracchedakaṃ viṣṇuṃ na bhajetso'tipātakī || 45 ||

Translation

肉や血などより成るこの卑しき身を得ながら、輪廻の縛りを断つヴィシュヌを礼拝せぬ者は、極重の罪人となる。

Word by Word

• कुत्सितम्: vile, contemptible
• कुत्सितम्: कर्म (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुत्सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (देहम् इति)

• मांस-रक्त-आद्यैः: by/with flesh, blood, etc.
• मांस-रक्त-आद्यैः: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस + रक्त + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (मांसं च रक्तं च आदयः); करण/हेतु-प्रयोग

• देहम्: a body
• देहम्: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सम्प्राप्य: having obtained
• सम्प्राप्य: पूर्वक्रिया (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-√आप् (धातु) → सम्प्राप्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययभाव (gerund); क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• संसारच्छेदकम्: the cutter of saṃsāra
• संसारच्छेदकम्: कर्म (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसार + छेदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (संसारस्य छेदकः) ; विशेषणम् (विष्णुम्)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• भजेत्: should worship/serve
• भजेत्: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अतिपातकी: a great sinner
• अतिपातकी: कर्ता-सम्बन्ध (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति + पातकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/उपसर्गपूर्वक-निर्माण (अति-); विशेषणार्थे संज्ञा

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames human birth as a rare chance for liberation: since the body is perishable and impure, one should turn to Viṣṇu, the destroyer of saṃsāra; neglecting that purpose is treated as grave spiritual failure.

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

Bhakti is presented as direct refuge—'bhajet' (worship/serve) Viṣṇu—because devotion to the saṃsāra-cchedaka Lord is the practical means to cut bondage rather than remain trapped in bodily identification.

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 prioritization: use embodied life for Viṣṇu-upāsanā aimed at mokṣa.