Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

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

Devanagari script

पार्थिवोऽयं तथा देहो मृदंभोलेपनस्थितिः । पंचभोगात्मकैर्भोगैः पंचभोगात्मकं वपुः ॥ ९३ ॥

Transliteration

pārthivo'yaṃ tathā deho mṛdaṃbholepanasthitiḥ | paṃcabhogātmakairbhogaiḥ paṃcabhogātmakaṃ vapuḥ || 93 ||

Translation

இந்த உடல் மண்ணிய இயல்புடையது; மண், நீர், பூச்சு ஆகியவற்றால் நிலைக்கிறது. ஐந்து புலன்விஷய இன்பங்களால் அனுபவிக்கப் பெற்று, உடலும் ஐந்து இன்பங்களின் வடிவமாய் ஆகிறது।

Word by Word

• पार्थिवः: earthly/of earth
• पार्थिवः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); देह-विशेषणम्

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• देहः: body
• देहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• मृद्-अम्भः-लेपन-स्थितिः: a structure/condition of plastering with clay and water
• मृद्-अम्भः-लेपन-स्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् + अम्भस् + लेपन + स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (मृदम्भोः लेपनस्य स्थितिः / मृद्-अम्भः-लेपन-स्थितिः)

• पञ्च-भोग-आत्मकैः: with five-enjoyment-natured
• पञ्च-भोग-आत्मकैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + भोग + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) (भोगैः सह विशेषण), तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन (plural); समासः तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चभोगाः यस्य आत्मा/स्वभावः)

• भोगैः: by/with enjoyments
• भोगैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन (plural)

• पञ्च-भोग-आत्मकम्: having the nature of five enjoyments
• पञ्च-भोग-आत्मकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + भोग + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); वपुः-विशेषणम्; समासः तत्पुरुषः

• वपुः: body/form
• वपुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue context)

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 frames the body as a perishable, earth-made support system sustained by external substances, and shows how attachment to the five sense-objects molds one’s identity—prompting vairagya (dispassion) as a foundation for moksha.

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

By exposing sense-enjoyment as the force that shapes bodily identification, the verse encourages redirecting attention from pañca-bhoga (sense-objects) to the Lord; such detachment steadies the mind, making Vishnu-bhakti more single-pointed and pure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-psychological discipline—guarding the senses (indriya-nigraha) and reducing dependence on sensory bhoga to support spiritual practice.