Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

फलानि जग्ध्वा शीर्णानि स्वयं क्षुच्च निवारिता । तस्मिञ्जीर्णीलये विष्णोनर्निवासं कृतकवानहम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

phalāni jagdhvā śīrṇāni svayaṃ kṣucca nivāritā | tasmiñjīrṇīlaye viṣṇonarnivāsaṃ kṛtakavānaham || 36 ||

Translation

گِرے ہوئے حد سے زیادہ پکے پھل کھا کر میں نے خود اپنی بھوک مٹا لی۔ اُس خستہ مکان میں میں وِشنو کا پرایَن ہو کر انسان کی طرح رہنے لگا۔

Word by Word

• फलानि: fruits
• फलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• जग्ध्वा: having eaten
• जग्ध्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जघ्/भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल; having eaten

• शीर्णानि: withered/decayed
• शीर्णानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; √शॄ/शृ to decay)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; Past participle, Neuter, Accusative, Plural (agreeing with फलानि)

• स्वयम्: by oneself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphatic adverb

• क्षुत्: hunger
• क्षुत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

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

• निवारिता: was checked/warded off
• निवारिता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√वृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past passive participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular (agreeing with क्षुत्)

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Pronoun, Locative, Singular

• जीर्ण-आलये: in the dilapidated dwelling
• जीर्ण-आलये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular; समासः—कर्मधारय (जीर्णः आलयः)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• नर-निवासम्: a human dwelling
• नर-निवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; समासः—षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष (नराणां निवासः)

• कृतकवान्: having made/done
• कृतकवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (क्तवतुँ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Perfect participle active, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights austere, non-dependent living—subsisting on what naturally comes (fallen fruits)—as a support for steady Viṣṇu-bhakti, showing that devotion does not require luxury or elaborate arrangements.

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

Bhakti is presented as consistent residence in remembrance and service of Viṣṇu, maintained even amid hardship; the devotee regulates bodily need (hunger) simply, so the mind can remain fixed on the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is disciplined āhāra (regulated intake) and simple living, which traditionally supports japa, dhyāna, and vrata-based devotion.