Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

Janaka’s Quest for Liberation; Pañcaśikha’s Sāṅkhya on Renunciation, Elements, Guṇas, and the Deathless State

Devanagari script

वर्तते पृथगन्योन्यमप्युपाश्रित्य कर्मसु । धातवः पंचधा तोयं खे वायुर्ज्योतिषो धरा ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

vartate pṛthaganyonyamapyupāśritya karmasu | dhātavaḥ paṃcadhā toyaṃ khe vāyurjyotiṣo dharā || 55 ||

Translation

مع أنّها متمايزةٌ بعضها عن بعض، فإنّ العناصر الخمسة تعمل في وظائفها الخاصة متساندةً فيما بينها: الماء، والفضاء (الأثير)، والهواء، والنار (النور)، والأرض.

Word by Word

• वर्तते: exists/continues
• वर्तते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अन्योन्यम्: one another (mutually)
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); परस्पर-भावे (reciprocal sense)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• उपाश्रित्य: having depended on
• उपाश्रित्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); ‘having resorted to/depending on’

• कर्मसु: in actions/operations
• कर्मसु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (locative), बहुवचन (plural)

• धातवः: elements/constituents
• धातवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• पञ्चधा: in five ways
• पञ्चधा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्चधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• खे: in space/sky
• खे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन (singular)

• वायुः: wind/air
• वायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• ज्योतिषः: of light/fire
• ज्योतिषः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• धरा: earth
• धरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that the material world is a coordinated system of interdependent elements; seeing their mutual dependence helps cultivate viveka (discernment) and detachment, supporting the Moksha-dharma aim of liberation.

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

By showing that even the elements act through mutual support, it implies a higher sustaining order; in Bhakti, that order is recognized as upheld by the Supreme, encouraging surrender and steady remembrance beyond bodily identification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse aligns with tattva-vicara used in Vedic cosmology and supports Jyotiṣa-oriented thinking about elemental influences (bhūta-tattvas), though it is primarily a Moksha-dharma philosophical statement rather than a ritual rule.