Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

बलं तेजो यशश्चैव विद्यां मानं च वृद्धताम् । तथैव सत्कुले जन्म आशा हन्त्यतिवेगतः ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

balaṃ tejo yaśaścaiva vidyāṃ mānaṃ ca vṛddhatām | tathaiva satkule janma āśā hantyativegataḥ || 25 ||

Translation

Harapan (keinginan yang menuntut) yang meluru dengan deras memusnahkan kekuatan, sinar wibawa, dan kemasyhuran; ia juga merosakkan ilmu, kehormatan, dan kematangan—bahkan kelebihan lahir dalam keturunan mulia sekalipun.

Word by Word

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तेजः: splendor/energy
• तेजः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• यशः: fame
• यशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• विद्याम्: knowledge
• विद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मानम्: honor/respect
• मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• वृद्धताम्: prosperity/growth
• वृद्धताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• सत्-कुले: in a good family
• सत्-कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सतां कुलम्)

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आशा: hope/desire
• आशा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हन्ति: destroys
• हन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अति-वेगतः: with great force/very swiftly
• अति-वेगतः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययवत् (instrumental/ablative sense: 'with excessive speed/force')

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an upadesha-style dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It warns that uncontrolled āśā (craving expectation) destabilizes character and spiritual lustre, undermining both worldly excellence (repute, learning) and inner maturity needed for dharma and moksha.

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

Bhakti requires steadiness and surrender; the verse cautions that restless expectation for outcomes weakens the mind, making devotion conditional rather than wholehearted and disciplined.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical self-regulation—mastering mental impulses (āśā) so that study (vidyā) and disciplined practice can mature.