Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

अंडजत्वेऽपि वाताशनामांसामेध्याद्यशनाश्च परपीडापरायणा नित्यं दुःखबहुला ग्राम्यपशुयोनिमागता अपि स्वजातिवियोगभारोद्वहनपाशादिबंधनताडनहलादिधारणादिसर्वदुःखान्यनुभवंति ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

aṃḍajatve'pi vātāśanāmāṃsāmedhyādyaśanāśca parapīḍāparāyaṇā nityaṃ duḥkhabahulā grāmyapaśuyonimāgatā api svajātiviyogabhārodvahanapāśādibaṃdhanatāḍanahalādidhāraṇādisarvaduḥkhānyanubhavaṃti || 6 ||

Translation

即便生于卵中，也以风、以肉、以不净之食为命，专事加害他类，常为苦所充。纵使投生为家畜之胎，亦受诸苦：与同类离散，负重劳役，被绳索等缚系，遭鞭打，又被迫负担犁具及种种重担。

Word by Word

• aṇḍajatve: in the state of being egg-born
• aṇḍajatve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṇḍajatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle, concessive

• vāta-āśana-māṃsa-amedhya-ādi-aśanāḥ: feeding on air, meat, impure things, etc.
• vāta-āśana-māṃsa-amedhya-ādi-aśanāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāta + āśana + māṃsa + amedhya + ādi + aśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'eating wind/air, meat, impure things, etc.'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• para-pīḍā-parāyaṇāḥ: devoted to harming others
• para-pīḍā-parāyaṇāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para + pīḍā + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• duḥkha-bahulāḥ: full of suffering
• duḥkha-bahulāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha + bahula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• grāmya-paśu-yonim: the species of domestic animals
• grāmya-paśu-yonim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāmya + paśu + yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; 'the womb/species of domestic animals'

• āgatāḥ: having entered/attained
• āgatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-gam (आगम् धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'having reached/entered'

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• sva-jāti-viyoga-bhāra-udvahana-pāśa-ādi-bandhana-tāḍana-hala-ādi-dhāraṇa-ādi-sarva-duḥkhāni: all sufferings such as separation from their own kind, burden-carrying, being tied with ropes, binding, beating, carrying ploughs, etc.
• sva-jāti-viyoga-bhāra-udvahana-pāśa-ādi-bandhana-tāḍana-hala-ādi-dhāraṇa-ādi-sarva-duḥkhāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + jāti + viyoga + bhāra + udvahana + pāśa + ādi + bandhana + tāḍana + hala + ādi + dhāraṇa + ādi + sarva + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Plural; long enumerative compound = 'all sufferings such as separation from one's kind, carrying burdens, ropes etc., binding, beating, carrying plough etc.'

• anubhavanti: experience
• anubhavanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-bhū (अनुभू धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

Speaker

Sage Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It highlights karmic retribution within saṃsāra: cruelty and impure, harmful tendencies lead to births marked by continual suffering and bondage, urging the aspirant toward dharma and compassion.

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

By exposing the harshness of lower births and worldly bondage, the verse indirectly motivates turning to Bhagavān through bhakti as a refuge from repeated suffering and as a purifier of violent tendencies.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it functions primarily as a dharma-ethical teaching supporting ahiṃsā and right conduct.