Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 150

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

अहो दरिद्रता दुःखं तत्राप्याशातिदुःखदा । आशाभिभूताः पुरुषा दुःखमश्नुवतेऽक्षयम् ॥ १५० ॥

Transliteration

aho daridratā duḥkhaṃ tatrāpyāśātiduḥkhadā | āśābhibhūtāḥ puruṣā duḥkhamaśnuvate'kṣayam || 150 ||

Translation

ଆହା! ଦାରିଦ୍ର୍ୟ ଦୁଃଖ; ତାହାରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଆଶା ଅତିଦୁଃଖଦାୟିନୀ। ଆଶାରେ ଅଭିଭୂତ ଲୋକ ଅକ୍ଷୟ ଶୋକ ଭୋଗନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• अहो: alas!/oh!
• अहो: भाव-प्रकाशक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय/खेद-अव्यय (interjection)

• दरिद्रता: poverty
• दरिद्रता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दरिद्रता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दुःखम्: misery/suffering
• दुःखम्: प्रेडिकेट-नाम (predicate noun: ‘is misery’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्र: there/in that (state)
• तत्र: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (locative adverb: there/in that)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (also/even)

• आशा-अति-दुःख-दा: giving extreme sorrow through hope
• आशा-अति-दुःख-दा: विशेषण (qualifier of ‘daridratā’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशा (प्रातिपदिक) + अति (अव्यय) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: आशायाः अति दुःखं ददाति इति (upapada-tatpurusha; ‘giver of excessive sorrow due to hope’)

• आशा-अभिभूताः: overpowered by hope
• आशा-अभिभूताः: विशेषण (qualifier of ‘puruṣāḥ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशा (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिभूत (कृदन्त, √भू धातु with अभि-; past passive participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः: आशया अभिभूताः (instrumental-tatpurusha sense)

• पुरुषाः: men
• पुरुषाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अश्नुवते: attain/experience
• अश्नुवते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद

• अक्षयम्: endless/undiminishing
• अक्षयम्: विशेषण (qualifier of ‘duḥkham’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It identifies āśā (restless expectation) as a deeper root of duḥkha than external lack, urging vairāgya and contentment so the mind is not trapped in “unending” sorrow.

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

By warning against worldly expectation, it implicitly redirects hope toward the Divine—steadfast bhakti replaces anxious craving with surrender (śaraṇāgati) and inner steadiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-psychological discipline—checking desire (kāma) and expectation (āśā) as part of dhārmic self-regulation.