Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

सुमाली त्वतिमूढात्मा तद्धनं चापि नारद । मूर्खैः पारंवडचंडालैर्बुभुजे च सहोद्धतः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

sumālī tvatimūḍhātmā taddhanaṃ cāpi nārada | mūrkhaiḥ pāraṃvaḍacaṃḍālairbubhuje ca sahoddhataḥ || 12 ||

Translation

ఓ నారదా, అత్యంత మూర్ఖమనస్సు గల సుమాలి ఆ ధనాన్ని కూడా వృథా చేశాడు; మూర్ఖమైన నీచ చండాలులతో కలిసి అహంకారోద్ధతంగా భోగించాడు।

Word by Word

• सुमाली: Sumālī
• सुमाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेष (particle: but/however)

• अति-मूढ-आत्मा: one of very deluded nature
• अति-मूढ-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + मूढ (कृदन्त; मुह्+क्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (excessively deluded + self)

• तत्-धनम्: that wealth
• तत्-धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (that + wealth)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (also/even)

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• मूर्खैः: by/with fools
• मूर्खैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पारंवड-चण्डालैः: with pāraṃvaḍas and outcastes
• पारंवड-चण्डालैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारंवड (प्रातिपदिक; जातिवाचक/समूहवाचक) + चण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (pāraṃvaḍas and caṇḍālas)

• बुभुजे: enjoyed/consumed
• बुभुजे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• सह-उद्धतः: and (was) insolent/violent along with them
• सह-उद्धतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + उद्धत (कृदन्त; उद्+हन्/धत?; रूढ ‘arrogant/violent’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (together/with + arrogant/violent)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (narrating to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sumali

FAQs

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

It warns that delusion (moha) and arrogance (uddhata-bhāva) corrupt discernment, leading one to waste prosperity through adharma and degrading company—an inner fall that precedes outer ruin.

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

By contrast: bhakti thrives on humility and satsanga, whereas this verse shows how asatsanga and intoxication with wealth pull the mind away from restraint and remembrance of dharma, obstructing devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti: guard wealth with self-control and choose satsanga, since conduct and association determine spiritual trajectory.