Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

भावशुद्धिविहीनानां समस्तं कर्मनिष्फलम् । तस्माद्रागादिकं सर्वं परित्यज्य सुखी भवेत् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

bhāvaśuddhivihīnānāṃ samastaṃ karmaniṣphalam | tasmādrāgādikaṃ sarvaṃ parityajya sukhī bhavet || 2 ||

Translation

من خلا من طهارة النية (bhāva) صارت أعماله كلّها بلا ثمرة. فلهذا، اترك التعلّق (rāga) وما شابهه كلَّه، وكن في سكينةٍ وسعادة.

Word by Word

• bhāva: mental disposition
• bhāva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (used in compound)

• śuddhi: purity
• śuddhi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (used in compound)

• vihīnānām: of those devoid (of purity of mind)
• vihīnānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (bhāvaśuddhyā vihīna)

• samastam: entire
• samastam: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• karma: action/ritual
• karma: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (in compound)

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (karma = niṣphalam)

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Apadana (अपादान/causal source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; ‘therefore’

• rāga: attachment
• rāga: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (in compound)

• ādikam: etc., beginning with attachment
• ādikam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (rāga-ādi = beginning with attachment)

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies rāgādikam)

• parityajya: having abandoned
• parityajya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-tyaj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• sukhī: happy
• sukhī: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• bhavet: should become
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It teaches that without inner purity (bhāva-śuddhi), even correct external actions—ritual or worldly—do not yield true spiritual fruit; liberation-oriented life begins with cleansing intention and motive.

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

Bhakti requires a purified heart; when attachment (rāga) and its allied impulses dominate, devotion becomes transactional. Renouncing such clinging stabilizes the mind, making devotion sincere and peace-giving.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse indirectly frames ritual efficacy: beyond correct procedure (a concern of Kalpa), the inner disposition must be pure—otherwise karma is ‘niṣphala’ despite technical correctness.