Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

Śreyas and Paramārtha: The Ribhu–Nidāgha Teaching on Non-Dual Self

Advaita

Devanagari script

दूरस्थितं महाभागे जनसंमर्दवर्जकम् । क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठमायांतमरण्यात्ससमित्कुशम् ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

dūrasthitaṃ mahābhāge janasaṃmardavarjakam | kṣutkṣāmakaṇṭhamāyāṃtamaraṇyātsasamitkuśam || 71 ||

Translation

ഹേ മഹാഭാഗാ, ജനക്കൂട്ടത്തിന്റെ തിരക്കൊഴിഞ്ഞ ദൂരസ്ഥലത്ത് അവനെ ഞാൻ കണ്ടു—വിശപ്പാൽ തൊണ്ട വരണ്ടു; കാട്ടിൽ നിന്ന് സമിത്തും കുശയും ചുമന്ന് വരികയായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• दूर-स्थितम्: standing far away
• दूर-स्थितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (स्था धातु से क्त)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मुनिम् इति विशेष्य

• महाभागे: O fortunate one
• महाभागे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन

• जन-संमर्द-वर्जकम्: free from the crush of people
• जन-संमर्द-वर्जकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक) + संमर्द (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मुनिम् इति विशेष्य

• क्षुत्-क्षाम-कण्ठम्: with a throat emaciated by hunger
• क्षुत्-क्षाम-कण्ठम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षाम (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मुनिम् इति विशेष्य

• आयान्तम्: coming
• आयान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मुनिम् इति विशेष्य

• अरण्यात्: from the forest
• अरण्यात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/ablative), एकवचन

• स-समित्-कुशम्: with firewood and kuśa grass
• स-समित्-कुशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘सह’) + समित् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/सह-समास (सहित); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मुनिम् इति विशेष्य

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers in the Moksha Dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Kusha (ritual grass)

FAQs

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

It highlights the ascetic ideal valued in Moksha Dharma—solitude, restraint from social distraction, and endurance of hardship—signs of a mind oriented toward liberation.

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

By portraying simplicity and self-control, it supports Bhakti indirectly: a disciplined, uncluttered life reduces worldly agitation and makes steady remembrance and worship (especially of Vishnu) easier.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The mention of samit (fuel-sticks) and kuśa indicates practical ritual discipline (kalpa/śrauta-smārta usage): materials used for fire-rites and sanctifying acts, reflecting correct observance even in austere settings.