Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

Devanagari script

यौवनं धनसंपत्तिः प्रभुत्वमविवेकिता । एकैकमप्यनर्थाय किमु यत्र चतुष्टयम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

yauvanaṃ dhanasaṃpattiḥ prabhutvamavivekitā | ekaikamapyanarthāya kimu yatra catuṣṭayam || 15 ||

Translation

Muda belia, kekayaan, kekuasaan, dan ketiadaan pertimbangan—setiap satu pun boleh membawa celaka; apatah lagi apabila keempat-empatnya berhimpun serentak.

Word by Word

• यौवनम्: youth
• यौवनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• धनसंपत्तिः: wealth/prosperity
• धनसंपत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन + संपत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• प्रभुत्वम्: lordship/power
• प्रभुत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभुत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• अविवेकिता: lack of discernment
• अविवेकिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविवेकिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• एकैकम्: each (one)
• एकैकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; used distributively ‘each one’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), concessive/emphatic

• अनर्थाय: for harm/misfortune
• अनर्थाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; Dative singular (purpose)

• किमु: how much more?
• किमु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + उ (अव्यय-निपात)
• Form: प्रश्न/उत्कर्षसूचक निपात (interrogative-exclamatory particle)

• यत्र: where/when
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सम्बन्धबोधक/स्थानवाचक (relative adverb: where/when)

• चतुष्टयम्: a set of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an instructive discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It warns that worldly advantages become spiritually dangerous when not governed by viveka (discernment); without inner discrimination, youth, wealth, and power amplify ego and lead to adharma, obstructing liberation.

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

Bhakti requires humility and self-restraint; the verse implies that when power and prosperity arise, one must anchor the mind in discernment and devotion so that success does not turn into pride and moral collapse.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is ethical application of viveka rather than a technical Vedanga; it aligns with dharma-shastra style guidance—cultivating discrimination to regulate conduct when prosperity and influence increase.