Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4
Saṃsāra-duḥkha: Karmic Descent, Garbhavāsa, Life’s Anxieties, Death, and the Call to Jñāna-Bhakti
स्थावरत्वेऽपि बहुकालं वानरादिभिर्भुज्यमाना हि च्छेदनदवाग्निदहनशीतातपादिदुःखमनुभूय म्रियते । ततश्च क्रिमयो भूत्वा सदादुःखबहुलाः क्षणार्ध्दं जीवंतः क्षणार्ध्दं म्रियमाणा बलवत्प्राणिपीडायां निवारयितुमक्षमाः शीतवातादिक्लेशभूयिष्ठा नित्यं क्षुधाक्षुधिता मलमूत्रादिषु सचरंतो दुःखमनुभवंति ॥ ४ ॥
sthāvaratve'pi bahukālaṃ vānarādibhirbhujyamānā hi cchedanadavāgnidahanaśītātapādiduḥkhamanubhūya mriyate | tataśca krimayo bhūtvā sadāduḥkhabahulāḥ kṣaṇārdhdaṃ jīvaṃtaḥ kṣaṇārdhdaṃ mriyamāṇā balavatprāṇipīḍāyāṃ nivārayitumakṣamāḥ śītavātādikleśabhūyiṣṭhā nityaṃ kṣudhākṣudhitā malamūtrādiṣu sacaraṃto duḥkhamanubhavaṃti || 4 ||
ସ୍ଥାବର ଯୋନିରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଜୀବ ଦୀର୍ଘକାଳ ବାନରାଦିଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଭକ୍ଷିତ ହୁଏ; କାଟାଯିବା, ଦାବାଗ୍ନିରେ ଦହନ, ଶୀତ‑ତାପ ଆଦି ଦୁଃଖ ଭୋଗି ଶେଷେ ମରେ। ପରେ କୃମି ହୋଇ ସଦା ଦୁଃଖବହୁଳ—ଅର୍ଧକ୍ଷଣ ବଞ୍ଚେ ଅର୍ଧକ୍ଷଣ ମରେ; ବଳବାନ ପ୍ରାଣୀଙ୍କ ତୀବ୍ର ପୀଡା ରୋକିପାରେ ନାହିଁ; ଶୀତ‑ବାତ ଆଦି କ୍ଲେଶରେ ଅତ୍ୟଧିକ ପୀଡିତ, ନିତ୍ୟ ଭୁକ୍କା, ମଳ‑ମୂତ୍ରାଦି ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଘୁରି କେବଳ ଦୁଃଖ ଅନୁଭବ କରେ।
Sanatkumāra (in dialogue with Nārada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It intensifies vairāgya (detachment) by describing how karmic bondage can lead to painful, helpless embodiments—urging the seeker to pursue dharma and liberation rather than sense-driven actions.
By showing the terror of saṁsāra and the fragility of embodied life, it prepares the mind for taking refuge in the Lord—bhakti as a saving orientation that redirects karma toward purification and mokṣa.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical causality (karma) and the urgency of disciplined dharma as the foundation for higher knowledge.