Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

कियदायुर्बालभावाद् वृद्धभावात्कियद् बृथा । कियद्विषयभोगैश्च कदा धर्मान्करिष्यति ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

kiyadāyurbālabhāvād vṛddhabhāvātkiyad bṛthā | kiyadviṣayabhogaiśca kadā dharmānkariṣyati || 29 ||

Translation

人生有多少寿命耗于童年，多少耗于老年，又有多少徒然虚掷？又有多少沉溺于感官境界的享乐——如此，何时才能修行正法（达摩）？

Word by Word

• kiyat: How much
• kiyat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kiyat (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• āyuḥ: Life
• āyuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bālabhāvāt: Due to childhood state
• bālabhāvāt: Hetu (Cause/Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular. (bālasya bhāvaḥ - Shashthi Tatpurusha)

• vṛddhabhāvāt: Due to old age state
• vṛddhabhāvāt: Hetu (Cause/Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular. (vṛddhasya bhāvaḥ - Shashthi Tatpurusha)

• kiyat: How much
• kiyat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kiyat (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vṛthā: In vain
• vṛthā: Kriya-visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vṛthā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• kiyat: How much
• kiyat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kiyat (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• viṣayabhogaiḥ: By enjoyment of sense objects
• viṣayabhogaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣayabhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural. (viṣayāṇāṃ bhogāḥ - Shashthi Tatpurusha)

• ca: And
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• kadā: When
• kadā: Adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of Time

• dharmān: Religious duties/Dharma
• dharmān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• kariṣyati: Will he do
• kariṣyati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Lrt Lakara (Future/लृट्), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd Person), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue on dharma and right living)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It warns that most of life is consumed by incapacity (childhood, old age) and distraction (sense-enjoyment), so one must consciously begin dharma early and consistently to make human birth meaningful.

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

By stressing the scarcity of truly usable time, it pushes the seeker to prioritize sādhana—dharma, self-restraint, and remembrance—creating the inner fitness in which steady Vishnu-bhakti can mature.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implies the practical discipline of kāla-viveka (wise use of time) central to dharma: planning daily duties (nitya-karma) and vows (vrata) rather than postponing them—more a dharma-priority teaching than a technical Vedanga lesson.