Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

स्वदेहान्निस्सृतं दृष्ट्वा मलमूत्रादिकिल्बिषम् । उद्वेग मानवा मूर्खाः किं न यांति हि पापिनः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

svadehānnissṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā malamūtrādikilbiṣam | udvega mānavā mūrkhāḥ kiṃ na yāṃti hi pāpinaḥ || 47 ||

Translation

自らの身より出る糞尿などの穢れを見て、人は嫌悪を起こす。ならば罪人は、なぜ自らの罪に対して退き恐れぬのか。

Word by Word

• स्वदेहात्: from (one's) own body
• स्वदेहात्: अपादान (अपादानम्/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य देहः)

• निःसृतम्: issued forth, excreted
• निःसृतम्: कर्म (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निस्-√सृ (धातु) → निःसृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् (किल्बिषम् इति)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययभाव (gerund); क्त्वान्त; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• मलमूत्रादिकिल्बिषम्: the impurity/sin in the form of feces, urine, etc.
• मलमूत्रादिकिल्बिषम्: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल + मूत्र + आदि + किल्बिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मलमूत्रादि-रूपं किल्बिषम्)

• उद्वेगम्: distress, agitation
• उद्वेगम्: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपदम् (यान्ति इति)

• मानवाः: people, humans
• मानवाः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• मूर्खाः: foolish
• मूर्खाः: कर्ता (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मानवाः)

• किम्: why?/what?
• किम्: प्रश्न (interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative particle used adverbially)

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

• यान्ति: they go/come to
• यान्ति: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात

• पापिनः: sinners
• पापिनः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a didactic dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It uses bodily disgust as an analogy to teach viveka: if one naturally recoils from physical filth, one should even more strongly recoil from papa (sin), since it stains the mind and blocks dharma and liberation.

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

By urging aversion to sin, it supports bhakti as a life of inner purity—turning away from actions that contradict devotion and dharmic conduct, which are prerequisites for steady remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline—checking harmful impulses and cultivating cleanliness of conduct (ācāra-śuddhi).