Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

उपवासादिभिश्चैव पुराणश्रवणादिभिः । पुष्पाद्यैश्चार्चनं विष्णोः क्रियायोग उदाहृतः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

upavāsādibhiścaiva purāṇaśravaṇādibhiḥ | puṣpādyaiścārcanaṃ viṣṇoḥ kriyāyoga udāhṛtaḥ || 44 ||

Translation

الصوم وما يتبعه من نُسُك، وسماع البورانات وما شابه ذلك من الممارسات، وعبادة فيشنو بالزهور وسائر القرابين—هذا يُعلَن كِرييا-يوغا، أي رياضة الفعل التعبّدي.

Word by Word

• उपवास-आदिभिः: by fasting and the like
• उपवास-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (आदि-शब्द-प्रयोग), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘उपवासादिभिः’ = with fasting etc.

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• पुराण-श्रवण-आदिभिः: by hearing Purāṇas and the like
• पुराण-श्रवण-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण + श्रवण + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला: ‘पुराणस्य श्रवणम्’ + ‘आदि’

• पुष्प-आद्यैः: with flowers and the like
• पुष्प-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘with flowers etc.’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अर्चनम्: worship
• अर्चनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रिया-नाम (verbal noun)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• क्रिया-योगः: kriyā-yoga (the yoga of ritual action)
• क्रिया-योगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘क्रियायाः योगः’

• उदाहृतः: is declared/said
• उदाहृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: भूतकर्मणि-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It defines Kriyā-yoga as concrete devotional discipline—self-restraint (fasting), sacred hearing (Purāṇa-śravaṇa), and direct worship (Viṣṇu-arcana)—showing that liberation-oriented spirituality is supported by daily acts of bhakti.

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

Bhakti is presented as actionable: observe vows like upavāsa, regularly hear Purāṇic teachings to shape faith and understanding, and perform arcana to Viṣṇu with offerings—devotion expressed through body, speech, and mind.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practicality is emphasized: the verse points to pūjā/arcana procedures and vrata discipline (upavāsa), which align with kalpa-style ritual practice (applied Vedic ritual method) even though no single Vedāṅga is explicitly named.