Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

उभे सत्यानृते बुद्धिं परमनिश्चयात् । अस्थिस्थूणं स्नायुयुतं मांसशोणितलेपनम् ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

ubhe satyānṛte buddhiṃ paramaniścayāt | asthisthūṇaṃ snāyuyutaṃ māṃsaśoṇitalepanam || 77 ||

Translation

പരമ ദൃഢനിശ്ചയത്തോടെ ബുദ്ധിയിൽ സത്യവും അസത്യവും രണ്ടും ഒരുപോലെ—മാത്രം ധാരണകളെന്നായി കാണുക. ഈ ദേഹം അസ്ഥികളുടെ തൂൺ; നാഡികളാൽ ബന്ധിതം; മാംസവും രക്തവും പൂശപ്പെട്ടത്.

Word by Word

• उभे: both
• उभे: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; अत्र कर्मरूपेण

• सत्ये: truth
• सत्ये: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• अनृते: untruth
• अनृते: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• बुद्धिम्: intellect/mind
• बुद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परम-निश्चयात्: from the highest certainty/conviction
• परम-निश्चयात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (परमः निश्चयः)

• अस्थि-स्थूणम्: having bones as pillars
• अस्थि-स्थूणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थूण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अस्थीनि स्थूणाः यस्य)

• स्नायु-युतम्: endowed with sinews
• स्नायु-युतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नायु (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (स्नायुभिः युतम्—endowed with sinews)

• मांस-शोणित-लेपनम्: smeared with flesh and blood
• मांस-शोणित-लेपनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + शोणित (प्रातिपदिक) + लेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः (मांस-शोणितेन लेपनम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in the Mokṣa-dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It sharpens ātma-viveka (discernment) by collapsing attachment to mental labels like “true/false” and by exposing the body as a perishable assemblage—supporting dispassion (vairāgya) and the turn toward the Self.

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

By reducing bodily identification and rigid mental judgments, the practitioner becomes inwardly free and fit for steady devotion—bhakti becomes less ego-driven and more single-pointed toward the Lord beyond transient body and opinion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is sādhana-oriented: cultivate niścaya (firm conviction) and vairāgya by contemplating the body’s material composition.