Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 105

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

भृगुरुवाच । पूर्वमेव भगवता ब्रह्मणा लोकहितमनुतिष्टता धर्मसंरक्षणार्थमाश्रमाश्चत्वारोऽभिनिर्द्दिष्टाः । १ ॥ ०५ ॥

Transliteration

bhṛguruvāca | pūrvameva bhagavatā brahmaṇā lokahitamanutiṣṭatā dharmasaṃrakṣaṇārthamāśramāścatvāro'bhinirddiṣṭāḥ | 1 || 05 ||

Translation

跋利古说道：在久远以前，吉祥的主梵天为诸世界之利益，制定了四种住期（āśrama，人生四阶段），以护持并保存正法（dharma）。

Word by Word

• भृगुः: Bhrigu
• भृगुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पूर्वम्: formerly / earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle (emphasis)

• भगवता: by the Blessed Lord
• भगवता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā (the Creator)
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• लोकहितम्: welfare of the world
• लोकहितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-हित (प्रातिपदिक; लोक + हित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य हितम्)

• अनुतिष्ठता: while carrying out / by performing
• अनुतिष्ठता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-स्था (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental sg)

• धर्मसंरक्षणार्थम्: for the protection of dharma
• धर्मसंरक्षणार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्म-संरक्षण-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + संरक्षण + अर्थ)
• Form: अव्यय (अर्थम्-प्रत्ययान्त; purpose), चतुर्थी-अर्थे (for the sake of); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य संरक्षणार्थम्)

• आश्रमाः: āśramas (stages of life)
• आश्रमाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• अभिनिर्दिष्टाः: were specified / prescribed
• अभिनिर्दिष्टाः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-नि-दिश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

Speaker

Bhṛgu

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It presents the āśrama system as a divinely instituted framework meant to uphold dharma and thereby support both worldly welfare (lokahita) and the higher aim of liberation through disciplined living.

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

By grounding life in dharma through the four āśramas, the verse implies that devotion matures within ordered duties—each stage becomes a support for steady worship, self-restraint, and surrender rather than a life of spiritual disorder.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes dharma-śāstric application—how social and ritual life is structured through āśrama duties; this connects practically to Kalpa (ritual procedure and conduct) as the Vedāṅga guiding right performance of prescribed duties.