Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

समस्तदुःखजालानां मात्सर्यं कारणं स्मृतम् । नरकाणां साधनं च तस्मात्तदपि सन्त्यजेत् ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

samastaduḥkhajālānāṃ mātsaryaṃ kāraṇaṃ smṛtam | narakāṇāṃ sādhanaṃ ca tasmāttadapi santyajet || 57 ||

Translation

Hasad dengki (mātsarya) dikatakan punca seluruh jalinan penderitaan; ia juga jalan yang membawa ke neraka. Maka hendaklah ia ditinggalkan sepenuhnya.

Word by Word

• समस्त-दुःख-जालानाम्: of all nets/collections of sufferings
• समस्त-दुःख-जालानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: समस्तानि दुःखानि (येषु) जालम् → दुःखजालम्; तस्य षष्ठी बहुवचन

• मात्सर्यम्: envy
• मात्सर्यम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्सर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: विधेय/प्रेडिकेट-नाम (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्मृतम्: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतम्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is considered/remembered’

• नरकाणाम्: of hells
• नरकाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• साधनम्: means/instrument
• साधनम्: विधेय/प्रेडिकेट-नाम (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: हेतु (Hetu marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेतौ/तस्मादर्थे (therefore)

• तत्: that (envy)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थे (also/even)

• सन्त्यजेत्: should completely abandon
• सन्त्यजेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्√त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It identifies mātsarya (envy) as a core inner vice that multiplies suffering and blocks spiritual elevation; renouncing it is presented as essential dharma and a safeguard against painful karmic outcomes.

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

Bhakti requires a heart free from rivalry and resentment; envy poisons devotion by turning the mind outward into comparison, so abandoning mātsarya supports humility, goodwill, and steady remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical self-discipline—identifying and uprooting envy as part of daily sadhana.