Shloka 28

Devanagari script

मांसमेदोवसासारे किं सारं देहिनां वद । विष्ठामूत्रमलैः पुष्टे को देहे रज्यते नरः ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

māṃsamedovasāsāre kiṃ sāraṃ dehināṃ vada | viṣṭhāmūtramalaiḥ puṣṭe ko dehe rajyate naraḥ || 28 ||

Translation

ज्या देहाचा सार फक्त मांस, मेद व मज्जा आहे, त्या देहात देहधाऱ्यांसाठी कोणते तत्त्व आहे? विष्ठा, मूत्र व मलाने पोसलेल्या या शरीरावर कोण राग धरेल?

Word by Word

• मांस-मेदस्-वसा-सारे: in the essence of flesh, fat, and grease
• मांस-मेदस्-वसा-सारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वसा (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; समासः द्वन्द्व (मांस-मेदस्-वसा) + तत्पुरुष (तेषां सारः)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक-सर्वनाम

• सारम्: essence
• सारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन

• वद: tell/say
• वद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विष्ठा-मूत्र-मलैः: with feces, urine, and filth
• विष्ठा-मूत्र-मलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पुष्टे: in (a body) nourished
• पुष्टे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; ‘देहे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक-सर्वनाम

• देहे: in the body
• देहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• रज्यते: is enamored/attached
• रज्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bibhatsa","emotional_journey":"A calm, interrogative instruction (‘tell me what essence…’) employs impurity imagery to redirect the mind from attachment to equanimous detachment."}

FAQs

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

It cultivates vairāgya (dispassion) by exposing the body’s material composition and impurity, redirecting attention from deha-ātmabuddhi (mistaking the body for the self) toward ātma-jñāna and liberation.

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

By reducing fascination with the body, it clears the ground for steady bhakti—devotion becomes less ego-centered and more focused on the eternal Lord rather than on bodily beauty, pleasure, or status.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual discipline (sādhana) through viveka (discernment) and vairāgya, which support mantra-japa, vrata observance, and devotional practice.