Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

Devanagari script

अनूष्मणामचेष्टानां घनानां चैव तत्त्वतः । वृक्षाणां नोपलभ्यंते शरीरे पंच धातवः ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

anūṣmaṇāmaceṣṭānāṃ ghanānāṃ caiva tattvataḥ | vṛkṣāṇāṃ nopalabhyaṃte śarīre paṃca dhātavaḥ || 64 ||

Translation

حقیقتاً بے حرارت، بے حرکت اور گھنے درختوں کے جسم میں جانوروں کے جسم کی طرح پانچ دھاتُو اسی انداز سے دستیاب نہیں ہوتے۔

Word by Word

• अनूष्मणाम्: of those without warmth
• अनूष्मणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनूष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘अनूष्मन्’ = उष्मरहित (without heat)

• अचेष्टानाम्: of the motionless/inactive
• अचेष्टानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचेष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘अचेष्ट’ = अचेष्टमान (inactive)

• घनानाम्: of the solid/dense (ones)
• घनानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तत्त्वतः: in truth/essentially
• तत्त्वतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; प्रकार/यथार्थार्थक (in reality)

• वृक्षाणाम्: of trees
• वृक्षाणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• उपलभ्यन्ते: are perceived/are found
• उपलभ्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (are obtained/perceived)

• शरीरे: in the body
• शरीरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, संख्याशब्द; विशेषण

• धातवः: constituents/dhātus
• धातवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It supports tattva-vicāra (inquiry into reality) by distinguishing bodily characteristics across life-forms, encouraging dispassion and clearer understanding of embodied existence—useful for Moksha-Dharma reflection.

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

By reducing attachment to bodily identity through analysis of the body’s constituents, it prepares the mind for steadier Vishnu-bhakti—devotion grounded in discernment rather than mere physical self-identification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Vyākaraṇa/semantic precision and Sāṃkhya-like tattva terminology (dhātu, śarīra-lakṣaṇa) used for doctrinal clarity; it is more philosophical classification than ritual procedure.