Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga

Devanagari script

शब्दोद्रेकादिकान्धर्मान्करोति हि यथा बुधः । तथात्मा प्रकृतेः संगादहंमानादिदूषितः ॥ ९९ ॥

Transliteration

śabdodrekādikāndharmānkaroti hi yathā budhaḥ | tathātmā prakṛteḥ saṃgādahaṃmānādidūṣitaḥ || 99 ||

Translation

ਜਿਵੇਂ ਕੋਈ ਬੁੱਧਿਮਾਨ ਉੱਚੀ ਬੋਲੀ ਆਦਿ ਵਰਤਾਰਾ ਅਪਣਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਹੀ ਆਤਮਾ ਵੀ ਪ੍ਰਕ੍ਰਿਤੀ ਦੇ ਸੰਗ ਕਰਕੇ ਅਹੰਕਾਰ, ਮਾਨ ਆਦਿ ਦੋਸ਼ਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਦੂਸ਼ਿਤ ਜਾਪਦੀ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• शब्द-उद्रेक-आदिकान्: such as sound, excitement, etc.
• शब्द-उद्रेक-आदिकान्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शब्द + उद्रेक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘धर्मान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; समासः तत्पुरुष (शब्दोद्रेकादयः येषां ते)

• धर्मान्: qualities/attributes
• धर्मान्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• करोति: produces/does
• करोति: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध-निरूपक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतौ अव्यय

• यथा: just as
• यथा: उपमान-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• बुधः: a wise person
• बुधः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रिया-विशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (so/likewise)

• आत्मा: the Self
• आत्मा: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रकृतेः: of Prakriti
• प्रकृतेः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सङ्गात्: from association/contact
• सङ्गात्: अपादान (पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• अहंमान-आदि-दूषितः: tainted by egoism and the like
• अहंमान-आदि-दूषितः: विशेषण (आत्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहंमान + आदि + दूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘दूषित’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) √दूष्; समासः तत्पुरुष (अहंमानादिभिः दूषितः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Prakriti
• Ahamkara

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Self is intrinsically pure, yet appears stained due to association with material nature (Prakṛti), which manifests as ego, pride, and other defects—pointing to detachment as a key to liberation.

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

By identifying ego and pride as impurities born of Prakṛti-association, it implies that Bhakti must be practiced with humility and surrender; devotion becomes purified when the “I” and “mine” notions are reduced.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It indirectly cautions about disciplined speech (śabda) and conduct—useful for Śikṣā (phonetics/training of speech) and Vyākaraṇa (refined language use)—since “excess speech” is shown as a detectable behavioral distortion tied to ego.