Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

ततः प्रभृति वायुवशाच्चैतन्याभावेऽपि मातुरुह्ये दुःसहतापल्केशतयैकत्र स्थातुमशक्यत्वाद् भ्रमति ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ prabhṛti vāyuvaśāccaitanyābhāve'pi māturuhye duḥsahatāpalkeśatayaikatra sthātumaśakyatvād bhramati || 11 ||

Translation

从那时起，受风力（Vāyu）驱动，虽然尚无意识，它在子宫内四处游荡；因为难以忍受的高热和毛发的触碰，它无法安住于一处。

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक/क्रमवाचक (thereafter/from then)

• प्रभृति: from (that point)
• प्रभृति: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रभृति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भवाचक (from, starting from)

• वायुवशात्: due to the force of wind
• वायुवशात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वायु + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative; कारण/हेतु), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे

• चैतन्याभावे: in the absence of consciousness
• चैतन्याभावे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैतन्य + अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अपि: even though
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (even/although)

• मातुः: of the mother
• मातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• उह्ये: in the womb (carried place)
• उह्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; 'मातुरुह्ये' = मातुः + उह्ये

• दुःसहतापल्केशतया: because of unbearable discomfort and restlessness
• दुःसहतापल्केशतया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःसहता + पल्केशता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (दुःसहता + पल्केशता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/हेतु-भाव), एकवचन

• एकत्र: in one place
• एकत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (in one place)

• स्थातुम्: to remain
• स्थातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive); 'to stay/stand'

• अशक्यत्वात्: because of inability
• अशक्यत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशक्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative; कारण/हेतु), एकवचन

• भ्रमति: wanders/moves about
• भ्रमति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrating/teaching in the Purva-bhaga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Vayu

FAQs

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

It highlights the helplessness and suffering inherent in embodied existence, urging dispassion (vairagya) and a turn toward liberation (moksha) rather than attachment to repeated birth.

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

By emphasizing the misery and lack of control in samsara—even before birth—the verse supports the Purana’s broader thrust that taking refuge in Bhagavan (especially Vishnu-bhakti) is the reliable means to transcend repeated embodiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga procedure is taught in this verse; it functions as a dharmic-philosophical reflection used in Purana narratives to cultivate detachment and readiness for disciplines like japa, vrata, and devotional worship.