Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

सततं बाध्यमानोऽपि विषयाख्यैररातिभिः । अविधायात्मनो रक्षामन्यान्द्वेष्टि कथं सुधीः ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

satataṃ bādhyamāno'pi viṣayākhyairarātibhiḥ | avidhāyātmano rakṣāmanyāndveṣṭi kathaṃ sudhīḥ || 71 ||

Translation

ବିଷୟ-ନାମକ ଶତ୍ରୁମାନେ ନିରନ୍ତର ବାଧା ଦେଉଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ପ୍ରଥମେ ନିଜ ରକ୍ଷା ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ନକରି ସୁଧୀ ଲୋକ କିପରି ଅନ୍ୟକୁ ଦ୍ୱେଷ କରିବ?

Word by Word

• satatam: constantly
• satatam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• bādhyamānaḥ: being afflicted
• bādhyamānaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bādh (धातु)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्/लट्-कर्मणि), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with सुधीः

• api: even though
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Concessive particle (अपि = ‘even though’)

• viṣaya-ākhyaiḥ: called ‘sense-objects’
• viṣaya-ākhyaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣaya + ākhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘named/called “objects (of sense)”’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies अरातिभिः

• arātibhiḥ: by enemies
• arātibhiḥ: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• avidhāya: without making/providing
• avidhāya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-dhā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप् with a- privative): ‘not having arranged/done’; expresses prior action

• ātmanaḥ: of oneself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• rakṣām: protection
• rakṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anyān: others
• anyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dveṣṭi: hates
• dveṣṭi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dviṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• katham: how
• katham: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-अव्यय)

• sudhīḥ: a wise person
• sudhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: ‘good/intelligent-minded’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It redirects the seeker from outward blame to inward vigilance, teaching that sense-objects are the real adversaries and that self-guarding (ātmārakṣā) is the mark of wisdom.

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

By discouraging hatred and outward hostility, it supports a bhakti-friendly temperament—purifying the mind from dvesha so attention can be turned steadily toward Vishnu through remembrance and restraint from viṣayas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught here; the practical takeaway is sādhana-oriented—self-discipline and guarding the mind against sensory distractions.