Shloka 23

Devanagari script

गिरीन्वनानि सरितः सरांसि विविधानि च । भोक्तुकामः प्रियान्कामांस्त्वयि भारं निवेश्य च ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

girīnvanāni saritaḥ sarāṃsi vividhāni ca | bhoktukāmaḥ priyānkāmāṃstvayi bhāraṃ niveśya ca || 23 ||

Translation

गिरीन् वनानि सरितः सरांसि च नानाविधानि, भोक्तुकामः परिभ्रमति। त्वयि भारं निवेश्य, प्रियान् कामान् अन्वेष्टुमिच्छति॥

Word by Word

• girīn: mountains
• girīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• vanāni: forests
• vanāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• saritaḥ: rivers
• saritaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (form identical with Nom. pl. in some stems; here by context as object-list)

• sarāṃsi: lakes
• sarāṃsi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• vividhāni: various
• vividhāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; adjective qualifying the preceding neuter plurals (vanāni/sarāṃsi etc.)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• bhoktu-kāmaḥ: desiring to enjoy
• bhoktu-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhuj (धातु) → bhoktu (तुमुन्-अन्त) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'desire to eat/enjoy'); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• priyān: beloved ones
• priyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• kāmān: desires, pleasures
• kāmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• tvayi: in/with you
• tvayi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• bhāram: burden, responsibility
• bhāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• niveśya: having entrusted/placed
• niveśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-viś (धातु) → niveśya (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थ)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), expressing prior action; 'having placed/entrusted'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

Speaker

Nārada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumāra tradition; Uttara-Bhāga tīrtha narrative voice)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It highlights a common human pattern—seeking pleasure through travel and experiences—while pointing to a higher principle: real security comes from placing one’s ‘bhāra’ (burden of life) in the Divine, not in changing locations or objects.

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

Bhakti is indicated through ‘tvayi bhāraṃ niveśya’—the act of surrender (śaraṇāgati). Even if desires arise, the devotee is urged to rely on the Lord as the true support, transforming worldly movement into God-centered dependence.

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-spiritual discipline: cultivate vairāgya and surrender so that pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā) does not become mere sense-tourism.