Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 67

Sṛṣṭi-varṇana, Bhārata-khaṇḍa-mahātmya, and Jagad-bhūgola

Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography

Devanagari script

कर्मभूमिं समासाद्य यो न धर्मं समाचरेत् । स च सर्वाधमः प्रोक्तो वेदविद्भिर्मुनीश्वर ॥ ६७ ॥

Transliteration

karmabhūmiṃ samāsādya yo na dharmaṃ samācaret | sa ca sarvādhamaḥ prokto vedavidbhirmunīśvara || 67 ||

Translation

ఓ మునీశ్వరా! కర్మభూమిని పొందినప్పటికీ ధర్మాన్ని ఆచరించని వాడిని వేదవిదులైన ఋషులు సర్వాధముడని ప్రకటించారు.

Word by Word

• karmabhūmim: land of action (Bharat)
• karmabhūmim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karmabhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samāsādya: having reached/attained
• samāsādya: Purvakalika Kriya (Action/पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-sad (धातु)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Gerund/Absolutive)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative Particle

• dharmam: righteousness/duty
• dharmam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samācaret: should practice/perform
• samācaret: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Optative), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• sarvādhamaḥ: lowest of all
• sarvādhamaḥ: Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvādhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• proktaḥ: is called/said to be
• proktaḥ: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया) - Passive
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-vac (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Past Passive Participle (Kta)

• vedavidbhiḥ: by knowers of Vedas
• vedavidbhiḥ: Karta (Agent in Passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedavid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; Upapada Tatpurusha

• munīśvara: O Lord of Sages
• munīśvara: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: munīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as munīśvara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Veda
• Veda-knowing sages (Vedavid)

FAQs

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

It states that human life—called karmabhūmi—is a rare opportunity meant for practicing dharma; neglecting it is seen as the greatest spiritual failure by Vedic seers.

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

It frames dharma as the essential foundation for higher pursuits like bhakti; devotion matures on a life disciplined by righteous conduct rather than mere worldly action.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the Vedic principle of dharma-anuṣṭhāna (proper performance of duty); while not naming a Vedāṅga, it aligns with Kalpa (ritual/duty frameworks) as the practical application of Vedic injunctions.