Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Saṃsāra-duḥkha: Karmic Descent, Garbhavāsa, Life’s Anxieties, Death, and the Call to Jñāna-Bhakti

Devanagari script

एवमनेकं देहभोगमन्याधीनतयानुभूयमानो दंशादिष्वपि निवारयितुमशक्तः ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

evamanekaṃ dehabhogamanyādhīnatayānubhūyamāno daṃśādiṣvapi nivārayitumaśaktaḥ || 25 ||

Translation

Vì thế, khi phải lệ thuộc vào người khác mà chịu nhiều khổ đau nơi thân, người ta trở nên bất lực, đến nỗi ngay cả việc xua đuổi vết cắn và những điều tương tự cũng không làm nổi.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

• अनेकम्: many/various
• अनेकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying देहभोगम्)

• देह-भोगम्: bodily experience/enjoyment
• देह-भोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (enjoyment/experience of the body)

• अन्य-आधीनतया: through dependence on others
• अन्य-आधीनतया: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आधीनता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular); ‘अन्याधीनता’ = dependence on others

• अनुभूयमानः: undergoing/experiencing
• अनुभूयमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु+भू (धातु) → अनुभूयमान (कृदन्त, शानच्; कर्मणि)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘being experienced/undergoing’

• दंश-आदि-षु: in bites etc.
• दंश-आदि-षु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंश (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी बहुवचन (Locative plural); ‘दंशादि’ = bites etc.

• अपि: even
• अपि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (even/also)

• निवारयितुम्: to prevent/ward off
• निवारयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+वृ (धातु) → निवारयितुम् (णिच् + तुमुन्)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); causative sense (to ward off/prevent)

• अशक्तः: unable
• अशक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण (unable)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

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 highlights the jiva’s helplessness in embodied life: karmically driven experiences arise, and even minor pains show how limited personal control is—prompting dispassion (vairagya) and a turn toward liberation.

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

By exposing the fragility of bodily autonomy, the verse supports surrender (śaraṇāgati): recognizing one’s limitations, a devotee seeks refuge in the Lord rather than relying on bodily strength or worldly support.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this line; the takeaway is ethical-spiritual—discernment about samsara and cultivating detachment as preparation for moksha-oriented practice.