Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

मेरुतुल्यसुवर्णानि बहून्यपहृतानि च । मद्यपानरतो नित्यं बहुशो मार्गरोधकृत् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

merutulyasuvarṇāni bahūnyapahṛtāni ca | madyapānarato nityaṃ bahuśo mārgarodhakṛt || 31 ||

Translation

また、須弥山にも比すべき多くの黄金を奪い、常に酒に溺れ、たびたび公道を塞いで人々を妨げた。

Word by Word

• मेरु-तुल्य-सुवर्णानि: gold (pieces) equal to Meru (in amount)
• मेरु-तुल्य-सुवर्णानि: Karma (कर्म/Object—things stolen)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु + तुल्य + सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (मेरुतुल्यं सुवर्णम्)

• बहूनि: many
• बहूनि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies ‘सुवर्णानि’)

• अपहृतानि: stolen, carried off
• अपहृतानि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative participle—stolen)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + हृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) ‘अपहृत’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• मद्यपानरतः: addicted to drinking liquor
• मद्यपानरतः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद्यपान + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (मद्यपाने रतः)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• बहुशः: many times, often
• बहुशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आवृत्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (frequency adverb)

• मार्ग-रोध-कृत्: one who blocks roads (highwayman)
• मार्ग-रोध-कृत्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent—doer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग + रोध + कृ (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष; ‘कृत्’ = कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun) ‘one who does’; अर्थः ‘मार्गस्य रोधं करोति’

Speaker

Sage Narada (teaching in a dharma-context dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Meru

FAQs

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

The verse catalogs grave adharma—massive theft, habitual intoxication, and harming society by obstructing public paths—highlighting how sin is measured not only by personal vice but also by injury to the community and dharma.

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

By portraying conduct opposed to dharma, it implicitly frames bhakti as inseparable from purity of behavior (sadācāra): devotion to the Lord is strengthened by restraint, honesty, and non-harm rather than addiction and exploitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti—socially responsible conduct (not stealing, avoiding intoxication, and not obstructing public ways).