Shloka 138

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टः क्षीणकर्मात्र चागतः । हिरण्यरत्नसंपूर्णे समृद्धे जायते कुले ॥ १३८ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ svargātparibhraṣṭaḥ kṣīṇakarmātra cāgataḥ | hiraṇyaratnasaṃpūrṇe samṛddhe jāyate kule || 138 ||

Translation

ततः स्वर्गात् परिभ्रष्टः क्षीणपुण्यः स मर्त्यलोकेऽत्रागत्य हिरण्यरत्नसमृद्धे धनधान्यसम्पन्ने कुले जायते।

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण), अपादान/क्रमसूचकः; 'thereafter/from there'

• स्वर्गात्: from heaven
• स्वर्गात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; Ablative singular

• परिभ्रष्टः: fallen down (deprived)
• परिभ्रष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-भ्रंश् (धातु) → परिभ्रष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past participle

• क्षीणकर्मा: one with exhausted merit
• क्षीणकर्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'one whose karma is exhausted'

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण); 'here'

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

• आगतः: having come
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past participle

• हिरण्यरत्नसंपूर्णे: in (a family) full of gold and jewels
• हिरण्यरत्नसंपूर्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + संपूर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (हिरण्य-रत्नैः संपूर्णः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग?—अत्र 'कुले' इति नपुंसक-शब्दे विशेषणत्वात् नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• समृद्धे: prosperous
• समृद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समृद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कुले इति विशेषण), सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative, 3rd sg

• कुले: in a family
• कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purāṇic karma doctrine: heavenly enjoyment is temporary, and when accumulated merit is spent, the soul returns to human birth—often in a materially prosperous family—showing that svarga is not final liberation.

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

By implying the limits of merit-based rewards (svarga), it indirectly points toward bhakti and mokṣa-oriented practice as superior, since devotion to Viṣṇu is taught as leading beyond temporary heavenly results.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects karma-vipāka (results of actions) used in Dharma-śāstra and related Jyotiṣa reasoning about merit, lifespan of results, and rebirth, though no specific Vedāṅga technique is explicitly described in this single śloka.