Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court

Devanagari script

न द्रष्टव्या विशेषा हि विशेषा हि प्रसंगिनः । अहंकारो न कर्तव्यो याज्ये तस्मिन्नराधिपे ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

na draṣṭavyā viśeṣā hi viśeṣā hi prasaṃginaḥ | ahaṃkāro na kartavyo yājye tasminnarādhipe || 52 ||

Translation

Huwag maghanap o magpilit ng mga natatanging pribilehiyo, sapagkat ang mga pagkakaibang iyon ay nagbubunga ng pagkakasangkot. Huwag magpalaki ng ego kapag ang haring iyon ang yajamāna, ang dapat paglingkuran bilang tagapagtaguyod ng ritwal.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• draṣṭavyāḥ: should be seen/should be regarded
• draṣṭavyāḥ: Vidhi (विधेय/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु) + tavya (तव्यत्-कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग? (पद्यानुसारः), प्रथमा-बहुवचन; विधेय

• viśeṣāḥ: distinctions/special considerations
• viśeṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (causal/emphatic particle)

• viśeṣāḥ: distinctions
• viśeṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• prasaṃginaḥ: leading to entanglement/bringing attachment
• prasaṃginaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasaṃgin (प्रसङ्गिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (viśeṣāḥ इत्यस्य)

• ahaṃkāraḥ: egoism/pride
• ahaṃkāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahaṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• kartavyaḥ: should be done/should be entertained
• kartavyaḥ: Vidhi (विधेय/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + tavya (तव्यत्-कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय

• yājye: in the one fit to be worshipped/sacrificed to
• yājye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yājya (याज्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• narādhipe: in the king/lord of men
• narādhipe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (अधिप प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नराणाम् अधिपः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narādhipa (King)
• Yajamāna (ritual patron)

FAQs

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

It teaches vairāgya and humility: seeking special status creates further bondage, while dropping ego—especially in sacred duty—purifies the mind and supports mokṣa-oriented living.

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

Bhakti thrives on sevā-bhāva (service-mood). The verse warns that craving recognition and acting from ego obstructs sincere service; serving the yajamāna without pride aligns one’s actions with devotion and inner surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual ethics tied to Kalpa (ritual procedure): the officiant should not demand ‘special considerations’ (viśeṣa) from the patron and must perform yajña-related duties without ahaṃkāra, maintaining proper priest–yajamāna conduct.