Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

एतज्ज्ञात्वा दैत्यगुरुरेकांते बलिमब्रवीत् । स्वसारमविचार्यैव खलाः कार्याणि कुर्वते ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

etajjñātvā daityagururekāṃte balimabravīt | svasāramavicāryaiva khalāḥ kāryāṇi kurvate || 91 ||

Translation

یہ جان کر دَیتّیوں کے گرو شُکر نے خلوت میں بَلی سے کہا—جو اپنے حقیقی بھلے پر غور نہیں کرتے، وہ بدکار اپنی مرضی کے کام کرتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• etat: this (thing)
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त), ‘having known’

• daitya-guruḥ: the preceptor of the Daityas
• daitya-guruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ekānte: in private, in solitude
• ekānte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• balim: Bali
• balim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sva-sāram: one’s own essence/core
• sva-sāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• avicārya: without deliberating
• avicārya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-car (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund with negation (नञ् + ल्यबन्त), ‘without considering’

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• khalāḥ: wicked people
• khalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kāryāṇi: acts, tasks
• kāryāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kurvate: do, perform
• kurvate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator) reporting Śukrācārya’s private counsel to Bali

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Śukrācārya
• Bali

FAQs

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

It underscores viveka (discernment): actions should be guided by reflection on true welfare (sāra), not impulse—otherwise one falls into adharma and self-harm.

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

By warning against unreflective action, it indirectly supports bhakti as a disciplined, conscious orientation of life—choosing what truly benefits the soul (service, humility, surrender) over ego-driven deeds.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights nīti-based discernment rather than a specific Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is deliberation (vicāra) before karma—aligning conduct with dharma to avoid harmful outcomes.