Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

अहो सदुपभोगाय सज्जनानां विभूतयः । कल्पवृक्षफलं सर्वममरैरेव भुज्यते ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

aho sadupabhogāya sajjanānāṃ vibhūtayaḥ | kalpavṛkṣaphalaṃ sarvamamaraireva bhujyate || 19 ||

Translation

Ay! Ang kasaganaan na nararapat tamasahin ng mga mabubuti sa wastong paraan—gaya ng buong bunga ng punong Kalpavṛkṣa—ay sa katotohanan ay kinakain lamang ng mga walang-kamatayan (mga deva).

Word by Word

• अहो: alas!/oh!
• अहो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भावसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विस्मयादिबोधक-निपात (interjection/particle of exclamation)

• सत्-उपभोगाय: for good enjoyment
• सत्-उपभोगाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + उपभोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थे (dative of purpose: 'for')

• सज्जनानाम्: of the good people
• सज्जनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सज्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• विभूतयः: prosperities, riches
• विभूतयः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• कल्पवृक्ष-फलम्: the fruit of the wish-fulfilling tree
• कल्पवृक्ष-फलम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पवृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; कल्प + वृक्ष) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कल्पवृक्षस्य फलम्)

• सर्वम्: all, entire
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'फलम्')

• अमरैः: by the immortals (gods)
• अमरैः: Karana (करण/instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• एव: only, indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis/only)

• भुज्यते: is enjoyed/consumed
• भुज्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (contextual attribution within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Amaras (Devas)
• Kalpavriksha

FAQs

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

It highlights a moral paradox: prosperity that should support dharmic living among the virtuous often appears to be enjoyed elsewhere, prompting detachment (vairagya) and steadiness in dharma rather than resentment.

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

By showing the unreliability of worldly fortunes (vibhuti), the verse nudges the seeker toward bhakti—anchoring the heart in the divine rather than in the shifting outcomes of wealth and status.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is ethical application—use resources in a dharmic way (sadupabhoga) and cultivate inner discipline when outcomes seem unfair.