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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

असूयाविष्टमनसि यदि संपत्प्रवर्त्तते । तुषाग्निं वायुसंयोगमिव जानीहि सुव्रत ॥ १७ ॥

asūyāviṣṭamanasi yadi saṃpatpravarttate | tuṣāgniṃ vāyusaṃyogamiva jānīhi suvrata || 17 ||

சுவ்ரதரே! அசூயை பிடித்த மனத்தில் செல்வம் பெருகினால், அதை வைக்கோலில் மறைந்த தீயென அறிக; காற்று சேர்ந்தால் அது உடனே கொழுந்தெழும்.

असूया-आविष्ट-मनसिin one whose mind is seized by envy
असूया-आविष्ट-मनसि:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअसूया (प्रातिपदिक) + आविष्ट (आ + विश् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formबहुव्रीह्यर्थे सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषसमासवत् प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular ‘in (a person) whose mind is possessed by envy’
यदिif
यदि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, शर्तसूचक (conditional conjunction)
सम्पत्prosperity/success
सम्पत्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (subject of प्रवर्तते)
प्रवर्ततेarises/proceeds
प्रवर्तते:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवृत् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘proceeds/comes about’
तुष-अग्निम्fire (fed) with chaff
तुष-अग्निम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतुष (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (object of जानीहि)
वायु-संयोगम्contact with wind
वायु-संयोगम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवायु (प्रातिपदिक) + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (object of जानीहि)
इवlike/as
इव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formउपमा-वाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)
जानीहिknow/understand
जानीहि:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन
सुव्रतO good-vowed one
सुव्रत:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootसु + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; Vocative singular

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

It warns that success in an envy-driven mind is unstable and dangerous—like concealed fire that can suddenly blaze—so inner purification must accompany outer prosperity.

Bhakti requires a heart free from asūyā (fault-finding). Envy burns devotion from within; therefore the verse implies cultivating humility and goodwill so devotion and prosperity do not become causes of spiritual fall.

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharmic self-discipline—guarding the mind against asūyā so one’s actions and gains remain sattvic and non-destructive.