Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

शरीरं भोगनिलयं मलाद्यैः परिदूषितम् । किमर्थं शाश्वतधिया कुर्यात्पापं नरो वृथा ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

śarīraṃ bhoganilayaṃ malādyaiḥ paridūṣitam | kimarthaṃ śāśvatadhiyā kuryātpāpaṃ naro vṛthā || 32 ||

Translation

Este corpo é morada dos gozos e está totalmente maculado por impurezas e afins. Por que, então, o homem dotado de entendimento do Eterno cometeria pecado em vão?

Word by Word

• शरीरम्: the body
• शरीरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• भोग-निलयम्: an abode of enjoyment
• भोग-निलयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भोगस्य निलयम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; शरीरस्य विशेषणरूपेण

• मल-आद्यैः: by filth and the like
• मल-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः ‘मलादिभिः’ (with filth etc.); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• परिदूषितम्: thoroughly defiled
• परिदूषितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूष् (धातु) + परि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शरीरस्य विशेषणम्

• किमर्थम्: why
• किमर्थम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb) ‘कस्य अर्थः?’ = why/for what purpose

• शाश्वत-धिया: with an eternal-minded intellect
• शाश्वत-धिया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘शाश्वती धिः’ (eternal-mindedness); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• वृथा: in vain
• वृथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It urges dispassion (vairāgya) by reminding that the body is inherently impure and pleasure-bound; therefore, one who seeks the Eternal should not waste life accumulating sin.

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

By discouraging sinful, pleasure-driven living, it clears the ground for bhakti—purity of conduct and restraint support steady remembrance and worship of the Eternal (often expressed in the Purana as devotion to Vishnu).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (śikṣā, vyākaraṇa, jyotiṣa, etc.) is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (dharma) as a prerequisite for higher knowledge and devotion.