Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

मयाप्येवं बहुक्लेशैरेतद्धनमुपार्जितम् । शरीरमपि जीर्णं च जरसापहृतं बलम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

mayāpyevaṃ bahukleśairetaddhanamupārjitam | śarīramapi jīrṇaṃ ca jarasāpahṛtaṃ balam || 28 ||

Translation

मयाप्येवं बहुक्लेशैरेतद्धनमुपार्जितम्; किन्तु शरीरं जीर्णं जातं, जरया बलं चापहृतम्॥

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• बहु-क्लेशैः: with many hardships
• बहु-क्लेशैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मधारय-समास (many + hardships)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• उपार्जितम्: earned/acquired
• उपार्जितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (agreeing with धनम्)

• शरीरम्: the body
• शरीरम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय (also)

• जीर्णम्: worn out/decayed
• जीर्णम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जॄ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past participle used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; शरीरस्य विशेषणम् (qualifier of śarīram)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• जरसा: by old age
• जरसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• अपहृतम्: taken away/deprived
• अपहृतम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप-हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; बलस्य विशेषणम् (qualifier of balam)

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

A worldly householder/wealth-seeker (narrative voice within the teaching dialogue, as cited in Adhyāya 35)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It underscores anityatā (impermanence): wealth gained with great effort cannot prevent jarā (old age) from eroding the body and strength, prompting vairāgya and a turn toward mokṣa-oriented life.

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

By exposing the limits of wealth and physical power, it implicitly directs the seeker toward a lasting refuge—Hari/Vishnu-bhakti—rather than dependence on possessions that cannot protect one from time.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discernment—prioritizing dharma and spiritual practice over mere acquisition.