Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

कामभोगाः प्रियास्तीक्ष्णाः क्रोधताप्रियसाहसाः । त्यक्तस्वकर्मरक्तांगास्ते द्विजाः क्षत्रतां गताः ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

kāmabhogāḥ priyāstīkṣṇāḥ krodhatāpriyasāhasāḥ | tyaktasvakarmaraktāṃgāste dvijāḥ kṣatratāṃ gatāḥ || 57 ||

Translation

കാമഭോഗങ്ങളിൽ ആസക്തരായി, കഠിനസ്വഭാവികളായി, ക്രോധവും ഉഗ്രസാഹസവും പ്രിയപ്പെട്ടവരായി, സ്വന്തം കർമം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച ആ ദ്വിജർ ബ്രാഹ്മണരായിട്ടും ക്ഷത്രിയസ്ഥാനത്തിലേക്ക് വീണു.

Word by Word

• कामभोगाः: sensual enjoyments
• कामभोगाः: विशेषणार्थ-नाम (Predicative descriptor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative: ‘pleasures of desire’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रियाः: fond of
• प्रियाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तीक्ष्णाः: harsh, sharp
• तीक्ष्णाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• क्रोधता: anger-ness, wrathfulness
• क्रोधता: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोधता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रिय: dear/fond of
• प्रिय: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (as compound member; base form)

• साहसाः: rash, audacious
• साहसाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साहस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• त्यक्त: having abandoned
• त्यक्त: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle, क्त) as compound member

• स्वकर्म: one’s own duty
• स्वकर्म: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative: ‘one’s own duty/karma’); समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• रक्त: attached
• रक्त: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle, क्त) as compound member; ‘attached/colored’

• अङ्गाः: limbs
• अङ्गाः: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• त्यक्तस्वकर्मरक्ताङ्गाः: those who, having abandoned their own duty, are attached (in their limbs/being)
• त्यक्तस्वकर्मरक्ताङ्गाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त (कृदन्त; √त्यज्) + स्वकर्म (समास) + रक्त (कृदन्त; √रञ्ज्) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (Possessive: ‘whose limbs are attached… after abandoning own duty’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• क्षत्रताम्: Kshatriya-hood
• क्षत्रताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गताः: have become/attained
• गताः: क्रिया (Result state/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle, क्त) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It warns that spiritual decline begins when one abandons svadharma and becomes dominated by rajas—sensuality, anger, and harshness—causing a fall from the brāhmaṇa ideal of restraint and wisdom.

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

By implying that bhakti and moksha require inner purity—control of kāma and krodha; otherwise the mind turns outward to power and passion, obstructing steady devotion and contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It underscores dharma-based application of śāstra: knowing one’s svadharma (as taught through smṛti and traditional discipline) and cultivating sāttvika conduct; no specific Vedāṅga technique (like jyotiṣa or vyākaraṇa) is directly discussed in this verse.