Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

Devanagari script

वस्तिमूलं गुदं चैव पावकं समुपाश्रितः । वहन्मूत्रं पुरीषं वाप्यपानः परिवर्तते ॥ १०२ ॥

Transliteration

vastimūlaṃ gudaṃ caiva pāvakaṃ samupāśritaḥ | vahanmūtraṃ purīṣaṃ vāpyapānaḥ parivartate || 102 ||

Translation

മൂത്രാശയത്തിന്റെ മൂലത്തിലും ഗുദത്തിലും പാചകാഗ്നിയുടെ സമീപത്തും ആശ്രയിച്ച് അപാനവായു മൂത്രവും മലവും വഹിച്ചു പുറത്തേക്ക് നീക്കുന്നു॥

Word by Word

• vasti-mūlam: the root of the bladder
• vasti-mūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasti (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘root of the bladder’

• gudam: the anus/rectum
• gudam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (अव्यय-संयोजक)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (अव्यय-निपात), emphasis

• pāvakam: fire
• pāvakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samupāśritaḥ: has fully resorted to/occupied
• samupāśritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vahan: carrying
• vahan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vah (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mūtram: urine
• mūtram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• purīṣam: feces
• purīṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purīṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable disjunctive particle (अव्यय-निपात)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (अव्यय-निपात), inclusion/emphasis

• apānaḥ: Apāna (downward vital air)
• apānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); name of a vital air

• parivartate: moves about/operates
• parivartate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the functions of the prāṇas)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Apana Vayu

FAQs

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

It defines Apāna’s downward-moving role—elimination and cleansing—showing that bodily purification is a prerequisite support for steadiness in yoga and Moksha-dharma practice.

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

While not directly praising bhakti, it supports devotional discipline by emphasizing purity and bodily order; a stable, purified system helps sustained japa, vrata, and focused remembrance of Vishnu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied yogic/Āyurvedic physiology (vāyu functions and digestive fire). It is not a direct Vedāṅga lesson like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa, but it is technical body-knowledge used in sādhanā.