Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

स्रंसंति न निवर्तंते स्रोतांसि सरितामिव । आयुरादाय मर्त्यानां रात्र्यहानि पुनःपुनः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

sraṃsaṃti na nivartaṃte srotāṃsi saritāmiva | āyurādāya martyānāṃ rātryahāni punaḥpunaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

ดุจสายน้ำในแม่น้ำที่ไหลไปไม่หวนกลับ กลางคืนและกลางวันก็ผ่านไปซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่า พรากอายุของปุถุชนไป

Word by Word

• स्रंसन्ति: fall away/decay
• स्रंसन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्रंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha-dyotaka (प्रतिषेध-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• निवर्तन्ते: return/turn back
• निवर्तन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• स्रोतांसि: streams/currents
• स्रोतांसि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रोतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st case), बहुवचन (plural)

• सरिताम्: of rivers
• सरिताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th case), बहुवचन (plural)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• आदाय: having taken away
• आदाय: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा/ल्यप् absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable gerund)

• मर्त्यानाम्: of mortals
• मर्त्यानाम्: Apādāna/Sambandha (अपादान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (plural)

• रात्र्यहानि: nights and days
• रात्र्यहानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (plural); द्वन्द्व-समासः = 'nights and days'

• पुनःपुनः: again and again
• पुनःपुनः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति (reduplication) = repeatedly

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It instills vairāgya (dispassion) by showing that time never returns; each day and night irreversibly diminishes human life, urging sincere pursuit of mokṣa.

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

By highlighting the nonstop loss of lifespan, it presses the devotee to take refuge in lasting spiritual attainment—steadfast bhakti (especially toward Vishnu) rather than postponing practice for transient goals.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to kāla-viveka (discernment of time) relevant to Jyotiṣa and daily observances—using the rhythm of nights and days to structure sādhana, vrata, and disciplined living before time is spent.