Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

छायाजलविहीने तु पथि यांत्यतिदुःखिताः । शोचन्तः स्वानि कर्मणि ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतानि च ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

chāyājalavihīne tu pathi yāṃtyatiduḥkhitāḥ | śocantaḥ svāni karmaṇi jñānājñānakṛtāni ca || 16 ||

Translation

Nhưng trên con đường không bóng mát, không nước, họ đi trong khổ đau tột độ, than khóc những nghiệp mình đã tạo—cả việc làm trong biết và việc làm trong vô minh.

Word by Word

• छाया-जल-विहीने: in (a place) devoid of shade and water
• छाया-जल-विहीने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (छायया जलेन च विहीनः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• पथि: on the road/path
• पथि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अति-दुःखिताः: very distressed
• अति-दुःखिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• शोचन्तः: lamenting
• शोचन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुच् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• स्वानि: their own
• स्वानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम-विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कर्माणि: deeds/actions
• कर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ज्ञान-अज्ञान-कृतानि: done knowingly and unknowingly
• ज्ञान-अज्ञान-कृतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ; क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (ज्ञानं च अज्ञानं च) + कृतानि (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मविशेषण

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

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in the dialogue style of Book 1.1)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It portrays the soul’s painful journey under karmic burden: suffering is intensified when one recognizes that one’s own actions—whether deliberate or careless—are the cause, prompting remorse and the need for dharmic correction.

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

By highlighting the misery born of karma and regret, it indirectly points to bhakti as a refuge: turning the mind toward the Lord and living by dharma reduces sinful tendencies and transforms remorse into sincere repentance and spiritual resolve.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical takeaway aligns with Dharma-śāstra reasoning supported by Vedāṅga-based discipline: mindful conduct (right action with awareness) is stressed, since deeds done in ignorance still bind—so one should cultivate correct understanding through śāstra study and proper guidance.