Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation

Devanagari script

यदा स्तुति च र्निदां च समत्वेन च पश्यति । कांचनं चाऽयसं चैव सुखदुःखे तथैव च ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

yadā stuti ca rnidāṃ ca samatvena ca paśyati | kāṃcanaṃ cā'yasaṃ caiva sukhaduḥkhe tathaiva ca || 34 ||

Translation

సాధకుడు స్తుతి నిందలను సమదృష్టితో చూచి, బంగారం ఇనుమును, అలాగే సుఖదుఃఖాలను కూడా సమానంగా భావించినప్పుడు, అతడు నిజమైన సమత్వంలో స్థితుడవుతాడు।

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: सम्बन्ध/कालाधिकरण (kāla-adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb): 'when'

• स्तुतिम्: praise
• स्तुतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निन्दाम्: blame
• निन्दाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• समत्वेन: with equanimity
• समत्वेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम (state of equality)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पश्यति: sees/regards
• पश्यति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• काञ्चनम्: gold
• काञ्चनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अयसम्: iron
• अयसम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• सुखे: pleasure
• सुखे: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समुच्चयस्य अङ्ग (paired with दुःखे)

• दुःखे: pain
• दुःखे: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (as the pair 'sukha-duḥkhe')

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

FAQs

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

It defines a key mark of liberation-oriented wisdom: the capacity to remain even-minded toward social judgment (praise/blame) and worldly dualities (wealth/poverty, pleasure/pain), indicating inner freedom and detachment.

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

By urging equanimity, it supports steady bhakti: a devotee remains unwavering in devotion to Vishnu regardless of honor or insult, gain or loss, because the mind is anchored in the Lord rather than in changing circumstances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa ritual procedure) is taught here; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual discipline—cultivating samatva as a daily sadhana in Moksha Dharma.