Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 94

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

नग्नो वा जीर्णकौपीनौ भवेन्मुंडो यतिर्द्विजः । समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः ॥ ९४ ॥

Transliteration

nagno vā jīrṇakaupīnau bhavenmuṃḍo yatirdvijaḥ | samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca tathā mānāpamānayoḥ || 94 ||

Translation

നഗ്നനായിരിക്കുകയോ ജീർണ്ണമായ കൗപീനമാത്രം ധരിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്താലും, മുണ്ഡിതശിരസ്സുള്ള ദ്വിജ യതി ഭിക്ഷുവിനെപ്പോലെ സ്ഥിരനാകണം; ശത്രുവിലും മിത്രത്തിലും, മാനത്തിലും അപമാനത്തിലും സമഭാവം പുലർത്തണം।

Word by Word

• नग्नः: naked
• नग्नः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नग्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative)

• जीर्ण-कौपीनौ: (having) worn loincloths
• जीर्ण-कौपीनौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीर्ण (कृदन्त, √जॄ/जॄण् ‘to wear out’) + कौपीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘जीर्णे कौपीने’ (worn loincloths)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुण्डः: shaven-headed
• मुण्डः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यतिः: ascetic
• यतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्विजः: twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; यति-विशेषण (appositional)

• समः: equanimous
• समः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शत्रौ: towards/in the case of an enemy
• शत्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मित्रे: towards/in the case of a friend
• मित्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• मान-अपमानयोः: in honor and dishonor
• मान-अपमानयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक) + अपमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (honor and dishonor)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the moksha-oriented discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It defines the inner hallmark of renunciation: even-mindedness toward social opposites (friend/enemy, honor/dishonor), showing that liberation depends more on mental steadiness than external appearance.

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

By insisting on freedom from praise and blame, it supports pure devotion—bhakti performed without ego, reputation-seeking, or hostility—so the mind can remain absorbed in the Divine without disturbance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; it is primarily a Moksha-Dharma instruction on sannyasa discipline and the psychology of samatva (equanimity).