Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 105
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
निकटा एव दृश्यंते कृतांतनगरद्रुमाः । यावन्नायाति मरणं यावन्नायाति वै जरा ॥ १०५ ॥
nikaṭā eva dṛśyaṃte kṛtāṃtanagaradrumāḥ | yāvannāyāti maraṇaṃ yāvannāyāti vai jarā || 105 ||
കൃതാന്തനഗരം (മരണത്തിന്റെ നഗരം) എന്നതിലെ വൃക്ഷങ്ങൾ അത്യന്തം സമീപത്തായി തന്നെ കാണപ്പെടുന്നു. അതിനാൽ മരണം വരുംമുമ്പും ജര വരുംമുമ്പും ശ്രേയസ്സിനായി പ്രവർത്തിക്കണം.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an upadesha on impermanence and timely practice of Dharma)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It warns that Death (Kṛtānta) is not distant; therefore one should begin Dharma, self-restraint, and God-centered practice immediately, before decline and the final moment arrive.
By stressing ‘before old age and death,’ it supports the Bhakti principle of early, steady remembrance and worship—so devotion becomes natural and firm rather than postponed until the body weakens.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is time-conscious discipline—do nitya-karma, japa, vrata, and ethical conduct now, not later.