Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

सर्वभक्षरतिर्नित्यं सर्वकर्मकरोऽशुचिः । त्यक्तवेदस्त्वनाचारः स वै शूद्र इति स्मृतः ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

sarvabhakṣaratirnityaṃ sarvakarmakaro'śuciḥ | tyaktavedastvanācāraḥ sa vai śūdra iti smṛtaḥ || 69 ||

Translation

എപ്പോഴും ഏതു ഭക്ഷണവും ആസ്വദിച്ച്, ഏതു ജോലിയും ചെയ്യുന്നവനായി, അശുചിയായി, വേദം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്, സദാചാരമില്ലാത്തവൻ—സ്മൃതിയിൽ ശൂദ്രൻ എന്നു പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• सर्वभक्षरतिः: addiction to eating anything
• सर्वभक्षरतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भक्ष + रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—सर्वं भक्ष्यं यस्य रतिः/सर्वभक्षणे रतिः (tatpuruṣa sense: addicted to eating everything)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative)

• सर्वकर्मकरः: doer of all kinds of work
• सर्वकर्मकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + कर्म + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—सर्वकर्माणि करोति (upapada-tatpuruṣa: doer of all kinds of work)

• अशुचिः: impure
• अशुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्यक्तवेदः: one who has abandoned the Veda
• त्यक्तवेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त (कृदन्त) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—त्यक्ताः वेदाः येन (one who has abandoned the Veda)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• अनाचारः: one of bad conduct
• अनाचारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनाचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• शूद्रः: a Shudra
• शूद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणार्थक (quotative)

• स्मृतः: is considered/declared
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It frames spiritual life as inseparable from ācāra (right conduct), śauca (purity), and fidelity to Vedic discipline; abandoning these markers is portrayed as a fall from dharmic order, which obstructs progress toward mokṣa.

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

By implication, bhakti is not merely emotion but a regulated life: purity, restraint, and scriptural orientation support steadiness of mind and heart, which are essential for sincere devotion and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes ācāra and śauca as practical foundations of Vedic life; while not naming a specific Vedāṅga, it aligns with the applied discipline that supports Vedic study and ritual correctness.