Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29
The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari
कियदायुर्बालभावाद् वृद्धभावात्कियद् बृथा । कियद्विषयभोगैश्च कदा धर्मान्करिष्यति ॥ २९ ॥
kiyadāyurbālabhāvād vṛddhabhāvātkiyad bṛthā | kiyadviṣayabhogaiśca kadā dharmānkariṣyati || 29 ||
എത്ര ആയുസ്സ് ബാല്യത്തിൽ പോകുന്നു, എത്ര വാർദ്ധക്യത്തിൽ, എത്ര വ്യർത്ഥമായി നശിക്കുന്നു. എത്ര വിഷയഭോഗത്തിൽ ചെലവാകുന്നു—അപ്പോൾ മനുഷ്യൻ എപ്പോൾ ധർമ്മം ആചരിക്കും?
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue on dharma and right living)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It warns that most of life is consumed by incapacity (childhood, old age) and distraction (sense-enjoyment), so one must consciously begin dharma early and consistently to make human birth meaningful.
By stressing the scarcity of truly usable time, it pushes the seeker to prioritize sādhana—dharma, self-restraint, and remembrance—creating the inner fitness in which steady Vishnu-bhakti can mature.
It implies the practical discipline of kāla-viveka (wise use of time) central to dharma: planning daily duties (nitya-karma) and vows (vrata) rather than postponing them—more a dharma-priority teaching than a technical Vedanga lesson.