Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Saṃsāra-duḥkha: Karmic Descent, Garbhavāsa, Life’s Anxieties, Death, and the Call to Jñāna-Bhakti

Devanagari script

मानुष्यं चैव संप्राप्य सर्वकर्मप्रसाधकम् । हरिं न सेवते यस्तु कोऽन्यस्तस्मादचेतनः ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

mānuṣyaṃ caiva saṃprāpya sarvakarmaprasādhakam | hariṃ na sevate yastu ko'nyastasmādacetanaḥ || 41 ||

Translation

Matapos makamtan ang buhay-tao—na may kakayahang tumupad sa lahat ng banal na layon—ang hindi naglilingkod kay Hari, sino pa ang hihigit sa kanya sa kawalang-malay?

Word by Word

• मानुष्यम्: human birth/state
• मानुष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘मानुष्यं (जन्म/देहं)’ as object of ‘having obtained’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-निपात), ‘and’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण-निपात), ‘indeed/just’

• संप्राप्य: having obtained
• संप्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+√प्राप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having obtained’

• सर्व-कर्म-प्रसाधकम्: capable of accomplishing all actions
• सर्व-कर्म-प्रसाधकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसाधक (प्रातिपदिक; √साध् + प्र + ण्वुल्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: ‘सर्वाणि कर्माणि प्रसाधयति’ (that which accomplishes all actions)

• हरिम्: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपास्य/सेव्य as object

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध-निपात), negation

• सेवते: serves/worships
• सेवते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘serves/worships’

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (he who)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात), emphasis/contrast

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• अन्यः: other
• अन्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘other’

• तस्मात्: than him
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ‘than him’ (ablative of comparison)

• अचेतनः: unconscious/insentient (more foolish)
• अचेतनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares human birth a uniquely powerful opportunity for spiritual accomplishment, and calls neglect of Hari-bhakti the height of spiritual negligence.

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

It treats service to Hari as the essential use of human life—implying that bhakti is not optional but the most meaningful fulfillment of all religious aims.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the purpose behind karma (ritual duty): human life enables right action, but those actions reach their true completion when oriented toward worship and service of Hari.