Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

सद्भिः श्रुतानि शास्त्राणि परदुःखविमुक्तये । सर्वेषां दुःखनाशाय इति सन्तो वदन्ति हि ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

sadbhiḥ śrutāni śāstrāṇi paraduḥkhavimuktaye | sarveṣāṃ duḥkhanāśāya iti santo vadanti hi || 70 ||

Translation

சாதுக்கள் பிறர்துயரிலிருந்து விடுதலை பெறவே சாஸ்திரங்களைச் செவிமடுத்து பயில்கிறார்கள்; எல்லோரின் துயரநாசமே சாஸ்திரத்தின் நோக்கம் என நல்லோர் கூறுவர்.

Word by Word

• सद्भिः: by the virtuous
• सद्भिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural (by the good/virtuous)

• श्रुतानि: studied/heard
• श्रुतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; शास्त्राणि इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम् — Past participle ‘heard/studied’

• शास्त्राणि: scriptures
• शास्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Neuter plural (texts/scriptures)

• पर-दुःख-विमुक्तये: for freeing (others) from sorrow
• पर-दुःख-विमुक्तये: Sampradana/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः (परस्य दुःखात् विमुक्तिः) — Dative singular (for liberation from others’ sorrow)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Genitive plural (of all)

• दुःख-नाशाय: for the removal of sorrow
• दुःख-नाशाय: Sampradana/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दुःखस्य नाशः) — Dative singular (for destruction of sorrow)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha/Quotation (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणार्थक-निपातः — quotative particle

• सन्तः: the good people
• सन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine nominative plural

• वदन्ति: say
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद — Present indicative, 3rd person plural

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपातः — particle (indeed/for)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Purva Bhaga dialogue context)

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 defines the highest use of scriptural knowledge: not mere debate or status, but universal welfare—learning dharma so that suffering is reduced for oneself and for all beings.

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

By framing śāstra as compassion-in-action, it aligns with Vaiṣṇava bhakti ethics: true devotion expresses itself as karuṇā (mercy) and loka-saṅgraha (uplift of the world), not self-centered religiosity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the applied aim of śāstric study (śāstra-viniyoga): learning disciplines like Vyākaraṇa and Nirukta is valuable insofar as they clarify meaning and support right conduct that alleviates suffering.