Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

संपद्भिः संयुता वापि विपद्भिश्चापि सज्जनाः । सर्वथान्यं न बाधन्ते स्वप्नेऽपि सुरसत्तमाः ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

saṃpadbhiḥ saṃyutā vāpi vipadbhiścāpi sajjanāḥ | sarvathānyaṃ na bādhante svapne'pi surasattamāḥ || 70 ||

Translation

无论得享福泽，或遭逢逆境，高贵之人决不以任何方式伤害他人——即便在梦中也不，噢诸天之最胜者。

Word by Word

• saṃpadbhiḥ: with prosperity
• saṃpadbhiḥ: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃpad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saṃyutāḥ: endowed/connected
• saṃyutāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ-yuj (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with सज्जनाः

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प-अव्यय)

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

• vipadbhiḥ: with adversity
• vipadbhiḥ: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

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

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

• sajjanāḥ: the virtuous people
• sajjanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat-jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: ‘good people’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarvathā: in every way
• sarvathā: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• anyam: another person
• anyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• bādhante: afflict/harm
• bādhante: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bādh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• svapne: in a dream
• svapne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• sura-sattamāḥ: the best of the gods
• sura-sattamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘best among gods’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); apposition to सज्जनाः

Speaker

Narada (teaching; addressing a divine listener as 'surasattama')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It defines the hallmark of a sajjana: unwavering harmlessness (ahiṃsā) that remains steady in both prosperity and distress, showing that true dharma is character, not circumstance.

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

Bhakti is supported by purity of intention; a devotee who refuses to injure others—even mentally—cultivates the sattvic mind that is fit for remembrance of Vishnu and steady devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline—guarding speech, action, and even thought—so that ritual and japa are not contradicted by harmful conduct.