Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 67

Śokanivāraṇa: Non-brooding, Impermanence, Contentment, and Śuka’s Renunciation

Devanagari script

ऐश्वर्यमदमत्ताश्च मानान्मयमदेन च । अप्रमत्ताः शठाः क्रूरा विक्रांताः पर्युपासते ॥ ६७ ॥

Transliteration

aiśvaryamadamattāśca mānānmayamadena ca | apramattāḥ śaṭhāḥ krūrā vikrāṃtāḥ paryupāsate || 67 ||

Translation

ഐശ്വര്യവും ശക്തിയും നൽകുന്ന മദത്താലും, മാനം-മായയുടെ അഹങ്കാരത്താലും മത്തായവർ—നിർലജ്ജർ, ശഠർ, ക്രൂരർ, ഉദ്ധതർ—സജ്ജനരെ നിരീക്ഷിച്ച് കാത്തിരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• aiśvarya-mada-mattāḥ: intoxicated with the pride of power/wealth
• aiśvarya-mada-mattāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक) + mada (प्रातिपदिक) + matta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (instrumental/causal sense): ‘mattāḥ aiśvarya-madena’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• mānāt: from pride; due to pride
• mānāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• maya-madena: by/with delusive pride (conceit)
• maya-madena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maya (प्रातिपदिक) + mada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (karmadhāraya-like sense ‘mayaḥ madaḥ’/‘conceit-pride’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• apramattāḥ: unrestrained/careless
• apramattāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apramatta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); a- privative (अ-), ‘not heedful’/‘unrestrained’ (contextual)

• śaṭhāḥ: deceitful (persons)
• śaṭhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• krūrāḥ: cruel
• krūrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vikrāntāḥ: bold/valiant
• vikrāntāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + kram (क्रम् धातु) → vikrānta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/क्‍त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• paryupāsate: attend upon/serve (closely)
• paryupāsate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + upa + ās (आस् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in Moksha-dharma context; dialogue framed with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It warns that wealth and authority can breed mada (arrogant intoxication) and mana (pride), which harden a person into deceit and cruelty—major obstacles to moksha that must be replaced by humility and self-restraint.

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

Bhakti matures through humility and compassion; this verse highlights the opposite tendencies—pride, vanity, and cruelty—that disturb the mind and make sincere surrender and service to the Divine difficult.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught here; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (sadācāra) and mind-governance—foundational supports for any Vedic study, japa, vrata, or ritual practice.