Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

यदृच्छालाभसंतुष्टिः संतोष इति गीयते । संतोषहीनः पुरुषो न लभेच्छर्म कुत्रचित् ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

yadṛcchālābhasaṃtuṣṭiḥ saṃtoṣa iti gīyate | saṃtoṣahīnaḥ puruṣo na labheccharma kutracit || 97 ||

Translation

ചോദിക്കാതെ ലഭിക്കുന്നതിൽ തൃപ്തിയാകുന്നതാണ് ‘സന്തോഷം’ എന്നു പാടപ്പെടുന്നത്. സന്തോഷമില്ലാത്ത മനുഷ്യന് എവിടെയും ശാന്തി ലഭിക്കില്ല.

Word by Word

• यदृच्छा-लाभ-संतुष्टिः: contentment with what is obtained by chance
• यदृच्छा-लाभ-संतुष्टिः: कर्ता (प्रथमा/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + लाभ (प्रातिपदिक) + संतुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (यदृच्छया लाभः; तेन संतुष्टिः = contentment with chance gain)

• संतोषः: contentment
• संतोषः: विधेय (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संतोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (predicate noun)

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• गीयते: is called/said
• गीयते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive: is sung/said)

• संतोष-हीनः: devoid of contentment
• संतोष-हीनः: विशेषण (of पुरुषः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संतोष (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (संतोषेन हीनः = devoid of contentment)

• पुरुषः: a person
• पुरुषः: कर्ता (प्रथमा/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• लभेत्: would/should obtain
• लभेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शर्म: happiness/peace
• शर्म: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• कुत्रचित्: anywhere/ever
• कुत्रचित्: देशाधिकरण (Adverb of place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्रचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अनिश्चित (indefinite locative adverb: anywhere/ever)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-upadesha sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It defines saṃtoṣa as accepting what comes unbidden (yadṛcchā-lābha) and teaches that inner peace (śarma) depends on this virtue, not on external accumulation.

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

Contentment reduces craving and competition, making the mind steady for remembrance and service; a content devotee can focus on devotion rather than on restless seeking of results.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it is primarily an ethical-dharmic instruction supporting disciplined practice.