Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

निषादकुलजा विप्रा नान्मा ख्याताऽवकोकिला । बन्धुवर्गपरित्यक्ता दुःखिता जीर्णविग्रहा ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

niṣādakulajā viprā nānmā khyātā'vakokilā | bandhuvargaparityaktā duḥkhitā jīrṇavigrahā || 40 ||

Translation

निषादकुळात जन्मलेली ती ब्राह्मणी ‘अवकोकिला’ या नावाने प्रसिद्ध होती. नातेवाईकांनी टाकलेली, दुःखी आणि देहाने क्षीण झालेली होती.

Word by Word

• निषाद-कुल-जा: born in a Niṣāda family
• निषाद-कुल-जा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निषाद (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (निषादकुलात् जाता)

• विप्रा: a brāhmaṇa woman
• विप्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; naming particle ('by name')

• ख्याता: was known/called
• ख्याता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ख्यात्/√ख्या (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अवकोकिला: Avakokilā (name)
• अवकोकिला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवकोकिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular (proper name)

• बन्धु-वर्ग-परित्यक्ता: abandoned by her relatives
• बन्धु-वर्ग-परित्यक्ता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + परित्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √त्यज्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (बन्धुवर्गेण परित्यक्ता / बन्धुवर्गं परित्यक्ता)

• दुःखिता: afflicted/sorrowful
• दुःखिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• जीर्ण-विग्रहा: with a worn-out body
• जीर्ण-विग्रहा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; समासः—कर्मधारय (जीर्णः विग्रहः यस्याः/जीर्णो विग्रहः)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within a teaching dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Avakokilā
• Niṣāda

FAQs

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

It introduces a case-study figure—Avakokilā—whose abandonment and bodily hardship set the stage for a dharmic and spiritual resolution, implying that inner worth and future upliftment are not limited by birth or social rejection.

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

Though Bhakti is not stated explicitly in this single verse, the Narada Purana commonly frames such suffering narratives as the background from which refuge in Hari/Vishnu-bhakti and dharmic practice becomes the transformative path for the distressed.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa ritual procedure) is taught in this verse; it functions as narrative context describing social condition and duḥkha rather than technical instruction.