Shloka 33

नरनारायण-नारदसंवादः

Nara-Nārāyaṇa–Nārada Discourse on Vision, Elements, and Entry into Vāsudeva

Devanagari script

के वा भुवि चिकित्सन्ते रोगार्तान्‌ मृगपक्षिण: । श्वापदानि दरिद्रांक्ष प्रायो नार्ता भवन्ति ते

Transliteration

ke vā bhuvi cikitsante rogārtān mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ | śvāpādāni daridrāṃkṣa prāyo nārtā bhavanti te ||

Translation

ନାରଦ କହିଲେ—ଏହି ପୃଥିବୀରେ ରୋଗାକ୍ରାନ୍ତ ମୃଗ ଓ ପକ୍ଷୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଚିକିତ୍ସା କିଏ କରେ? ତଥାପି, ହେ ଦରିଦ୍ରାକ୍ଷ! ଶ୍ୱାପଦ (ମାଂସ/ଶବଭକ୍ଷୀ) ପ୍ରାୟଃ ରୋଗଗ୍ରସ୍ତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ; ସେମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ରୋଗ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ କମ୍।

Word by Word

• के: who (plural)?
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वा: or/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• चिकित्सन्ते: treat/doctor (for)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिकित्स्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Ātmanepada

• रोगार्तान्: afflicted by disease
• रोगार्तान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोगार्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मृगपक्षिणः: beasts and birds
• मृगपक्षिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगपक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• श्वापदानि: wild beasts/predators
• श्वापदानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वापद
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• दरिद्राक्ष: O poor-eyed one (wretched-looking one)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दरिद्राक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• प्रायः: generally/for the most part
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायः

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• आर्ताः: afflicted/distressed
• आर्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भवन्ति: become/are
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• mṛga (beasts)
• pakṣi (birds)
• śvāpada (beasts of prey/scavengers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the uneven distribution of suffering in the world: humans seek healing and care for the sick, but wild creatures often lack such support—yet some (like scavengers/predators) seem largely free from illness. It prompts reflection on the mystery of suffering and the ethical impulse to provide care where it is absent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is speaking in a reflective, didactic mode within Śānti Parva, using observations about animals, birds, and scavenging beasts to make a point about illness, vulnerability, and the conditions of living beings in the world.