Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

असूयाविष्टमनसि यदि संपत्प्रवर्त्तते । तुषाग्निं वायुसंयोगमिव जानीहि सुव्रत ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

asūyāviṣṭamanasi yadi saṃpatpravarttate | tuṣāgniṃ vāyusaṃyogamiva jānīhi suvrata || 17 ||

Translation

Wahai yang berikrar mulia! Jika kemakmuran muncul dalam hati yang dikuasai iri, ketahuilah ia seperti api tersembunyi dalam sekam yang bertemu angin—cepat menyala dan membawa kebinasaan.

Word by Word

• असूया-आविष्ट-मनसि: in one whose mind is seized by envy
• असूया-आविष्ट-मनसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असूया (प्रातिपदिक) + आविष्ट (आ + विश् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीह्यर्थे सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषसमासवत् प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular ‘in (a person) whose mind is possessed by envy’

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शर्तसूचक (conditional conjunction)

• सम्पत्: prosperity/success
• सम्पत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (subject of प्रवर्तते)

• प्रवर्तते: arises/proceeds
• प्रवर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘proceeds/comes about’

• तुष-अग्निम्: fire (fed) with chaff
• तुष-अग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (object of जानीहि)

• वायु-संयोगम्: contact with wind
• वायु-संयोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (object of जानीहि)

• इव: like/as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)

• जानीहि: know/understand
• जानीहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सुव्रत: O good-vowed one
• सुव्रत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; Vocative singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It warns that success in an envy-driven mind is unstable and dangerous—like concealed fire that can suddenly blaze—so inner purification must accompany outer prosperity.

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

Bhakti requires a heart free from asūyā (fault-finding). Envy burns devotion from within; therefore the verse implies cultivating humility and goodwill so devotion and prosperity do not become causes of spiritual fall.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharmic self-discipline—guarding the mind against asūyā so one’s actions and gains remain sattvic and non-destructive.