Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release
या नारी भर्त्तृरहिता जीवत्यपि मृतोपमा । तथापि बालवैधव्यं किं वक्ष्याम्यरिमर्दन ॥ ५७ ॥
yā nārī bharttṛrahitā jīvatyapi mṛtopamā | tathāpi bālavaidhavyaṃ kiṃ vakṣyāmyarimardana || 57 ||
जिचा पती नाही ती स्त्री जिवंत असूनही मृतासारखीच. तरी बालविधवापणाबद्दल काय सांगू, हे अरिमर्दन!
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It underscores the gravity of separation and suffering within saṃsāra by portraying widowhood—especially child widowhood—as an extreme form of worldly pain, prompting reflection on dharma, compassion, and the need for higher spiritual refuge.
Indirectly, it highlights the fragility of worldly supports; such recognition often turns the mind toward seeking lasting shelter in Bhagavān rather than relying solely on transient social and familial conditions.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it functions primarily as a dharma/nīti statement emphasizing ethical awareness and social suffering.