Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court

Devanagari script

न द्रष्टव्या विशेषा हि विशेषा हि प्रसंगिनः । अहंकारो न कर्तव्यो याज्ये तस्मिन्नराधिपे ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

na draṣṭavyā viśeṣā hi viśeṣā hi prasaṃginaḥ | ahaṃkāro na kartavyo yājye tasminnarādhipe || 52 ||

Translation

不应寻求或执著于特殊待遇，因为种种分别只会滋生牵缠。既以那位国王为祭主（yajamāna）而奉事时，切莫起我慢之心。

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• draṣṭavyāḥ: should be seen/should be regarded
• draṣṭavyāḥ: Vidhi (विधेय/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु) + tavya (तव्यत्-कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग? (पद्यानुसारः), प्रथमा-बहुवचन; विधेय

• viśeṣāḥ: distinctions/special considerations
• viśeṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (causal/emphatic particle)

• viśeṣāḥ: distinctions
• viśeṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ)

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

• prasaṃginaḥ: leading to entanglement/bringing attachment
• prasaṃginaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasaṃgin (प्रसङ्गिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (viśeṣāḥ इत्यस्य)

• ahaṃkāraḥ: egoism/pride
• ahaṃkāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahaṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• kartavyaḥ: should be done/should be entertained
• kartavyaḥ: Vidhi (विधेय/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + tavya (तव्यत्-कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय

• yājye: in the one fit to be worshipped/sacrificed to
• yājye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yājya (याज्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• narādhipe: in the king/lord of men
• narādhipe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (अधिप प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नराणाम् अधिपः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narādhipa (King)
• Yajamāna (ritual patron)

FAQs

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

It teaches vairāgya and humility: seeking special status creates further bondage, while dropping ego—especially in sacred duty—purifies the mind and supports mokṣa-oriented living.

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

Bhakti thrives on sevā-bhāva (service-mood). The verse warns that craving recognition and acting from ego obstructs sincere service; serving the yajamāna without pride aligns one’s actions with devotion and inner surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual ethics tied to Kalpa (ritual procedure): the officiant should not demand ‘special considerations’ (viśeṣa) from the patron and must perform yajña-related duties without ahaṃkāra, maintaining proper priest–yajamāna conduct.