Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Bharata’s Attachment and the Palanquin Teaching on ‘I’ and ‘Mine’

Devanagari script

विहाय मातरं भूयः शालग्राममुपाययौ । शुष्कैस्तृणैस्तथा पर्णैः स कुर्वन्नात्मपोषणम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

vihāya mātaraṃ bhūyaḥ śālagrāmamupāyayau | śuṣkaistṛṇaistathā parṇaiḥ sa kurvannātmapoṣaṇam || 30 ||

Translation

അവൻ വീണ്ടും മാതാവിനെ വിട്ട് ശാലഗ്രാമത്തിലേക്ക് പോയി. അവിടെ ഉണങ്ങിയ പുല്ലും ഇലകളും ആഹാരമാക്കി സ്വയം പോഷണം ചെയ്ത് ജീവിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• vihāya: having abandoned
• vihāya: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√hā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; prior action

• mātaram: mother
• mātaram: Karma (कर्म/Object of vihāya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• bhūyaḥ: again
• bhūyaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/time-manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (पुनरर्थक/again)

• śālagrāmam: Śālagrāma (place)
• śālagrāmam: Karma (कर्म/Object of upāyayau; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (place-name)

• upāyayau: went to, approached
• upāyayau: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√i (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular, परस्मैपद

• śuṣkaiḥ: dry
• śuṣkaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuṣka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agreeing with tṛṇaiḥ/parṇaiḥ

• tṛṇaiḥ: with grasses
• tṛṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; means of nourishment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• tathā: and also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction/adverb (समुच्चय/and likewise)

• parṇaiḥ: with leaves
• parṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kurvan: doing, making
• kurvan: Karta (कर्ता; concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ātma-poṣaṇam: self-nourishment
• ātma-poṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object of kurvan)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + poṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ātmanaḥ poṣaṇam)

Speaker

Narada (narration within the teaching dialogue to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shalagrama
• Mother

FAQs

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

It highlights vairāgya (detachment) expressed through leaving worldly dependence and choosing austere self-sustenance while moving toward a Viṣṇu-associated tīrtha (Śālagrāma), indicating a life oriented to mokṣa rather than comfort.

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

By going to Śālagrāma—revered as a sacred Viṣṇu center—the verse frames devotion as not merely emotion but disciplined life-choice: pilgrimage, simplicity, and endurance that support steady remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharmic conduct—tapas and regulated living—supporting spiritual practice rather than technical ritual detail.