Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

शरीरं मृत्युसंयुक्तं जीवनं चाति चञ्चलम् । राजादिभिर्धनं बाध्यं सम्पदः क्षणभङ्गुराः ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

śarīraṃ mṛtyusaṃyuktaṃ jīvanaṃ cāti cañcalam | rājādibhirdhanaṃ bādhyaṃ sampadaḥ kṣaṇabhaṅgurāḥ || 27 ||

Translation

ഈ ശരീരം മരണത്തോടു ബന്ധിതം; ജീവിതം അത്യന്തം ചഞ്ചലം. ധനം രാജാക്കന്മാർ മുതലായവർ പിടിച്ചെടുക്കാം; സമ്പത്തുകൾ ക്ഷണഭംഗുരം.

Word by Word

• śarīram: Body
• śarīram: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mṛtyusaṃyuktam: Connected with death
• mṛtyusaṃyuktam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛtyusaṃyukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. (mṛtyunā saṃyuktam - Tritiya Tatpurusha)

• jīvanam: Life
• jīvanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: And
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• ati: Very/Extremely
• ati: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ati (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Prefix

• cañcalam: Fickle/Unstable
• cañcalam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cañcala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• rājādibhiḥ: By kings and others
• rājādibhiḥ: Karta (Agent/कर्ता) in passive sense
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural. (rājā ādiḥ yeṣāṃ te - Tadguna Samvijnana Bahuvrihi)

• dhanam: Wealth
• dhanam: Karma (Object/कर्म) in passive construction
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bādhyam: Obstructible/Liable to be taken
• bādhyam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bādhya (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. (Kritya Pratyaya - Yat)

• sampadaḥ: Fortunes/Assets
• sampadaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sampad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• kṣaṇabhaṅgurāḥ: Momentary/Fragile
• kṣaṇabhaṅgurāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣaṇabhaṅgura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural. (kṣaṇe bhaṅgurāḥ - Saptami Tatpurusha)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches vairagya (detachment) by stressing anitya: the body is death-bound, life is unstable, and wealth and prosperity can vanish instantly—therefore one should seek lasting spiritual refuge rather than temporary security.

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

By exposing the fragility of worldly supports (body, lifespan, riches), the verse implicitly redirects the mind toward unwavering dependence on the divine; bhakti becomes the stable anchor when everything else is kṣaṇa-bhaṅgura (momentary).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is ethical and contemplative—cultivate discernment (viveka) and prioritize dharma and sadhana over unstable material gain.