Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

पारिजातादिवृक्षाणां पुष्पाण्याहृत्य ते खलाः । भूषयन्ति स्वदेहानि मद्यपानपरायणाः ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

pārijātādivṛkṣāṇāṃ puṣpāṇyāhṛtya te khalāḥ | bhūṣayanti svadehāni madyapānaparāyaṇāḥ || 77 ||

Translation

ପାରିଜାତ ଆଦି କଳ୍ପବୃକ୍ଷର ପୁଷ୍ପ ଛିଣି, ମଦ୍ୟପାନେ ଆସକ୍ତ ସେ ଦୁଷ୍ଟମାନେ କେବଳ ନିଜ ଦେହକୁ ଶୋଭାୟିତ କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• पारिजात-आदि-वृक्षाणाम्: of the pārijāta and other trees
• पारिजात-आदि-वृक्षाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारिजात + आदि + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन; समासः—पारिजातादयः ये वृक्षाः तेषाम् (genitive plural)

• पुष्पाणि: flowers
• पुष्पाणि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); बहुवचन

• आहृत्य: having brought
• आहृत्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘आहृत्य’ = having brought

• ते: those
• ते: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• खलाः: wicked people
• खलाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन

• भूषयन्ति: they adorn
• भूषयन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भूष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन

• स्व-देहानि: their own bodies
• स्व-देहानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); बहुवचन; समासः—स्वाः देहाः (one’s own bodies)

• मद्य-पान-परायणाः: devoted to drinking liquor
• मद्य-पान-परायणाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद्य + पान + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘खलाः’); समासः—मद्यपाने परायणाः (devoted to drinking liquor)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Pārijāta

FAQs

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

It condemns misusing sacred, auspicious substances for vanity while remaining enslaved to intoxication, highlighting that true dharma requires inner purity and restraint, not mere external ornamentation.

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

By implication, it contrasts self-centered indulgence with devotional use of sacred offerings—flowers are meant for worship and reverence, not for egoic display fueled by addictive habits that cloud devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to ritual purity and right use of offerings (a practical dharmic guideline relevant to kalpa/ācāra traditions), warning that intoxicants undermine the discipline required for worship and vrata observance.