Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

चतुराश्रमयुक्तेन कर्मणा कालयोनिना । अकामफलसंयोगाः प्रयांति परमां गतिम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

caturāśramayuktena karmaṇā kālayoninā | akāmaphalasaṃyogāḥ prayāṃti paramāṃ gatim || 12 ||

Translation

وبالعمل القائم على الآشرمات الأربع والمصوغ بنظام الزمان، فإن الذين لا يتقيدون بثمارٍ مولودةٍ من الشهوة يبلغون المقام الأعلى.

Word by Word

• चतुर्-आश्रम-युक्तेन: by (action) connected with the four āśramas
• चतुर्-आश्रम-युक्तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; युक्त = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणं कर्मणः

• कर्मणा: by action/deed
• कर्मणा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• काल-योनिना: having time as its source
• काल-योनिना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; योनि-शब्दः; विशेषणं कर्मणः; समासः: कालः योनिः यस्य (here used as determinative: having time as source/ground)

• अकाम-फल-संयोगाः: connections with desireless fruits (unselfish results)
• अकाम-फल-संयोगाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकाम (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः: अकामस्य फलस्य संयोगाः (association with desireless fruits)

• प्रयान्ति: they go/attain
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणं गतिम्

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

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 liberation is reached not by abandoning duty, but by performing āśrama-based dharma in the right order of life while remaining unattached to desire-driven rewards.

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

By emphasizing renunciation of personal gain (akāma-phala), the verse supports the bhakti ideal of offering actions to the Divine without bargaining for outcomes—purifying the heart for the supreme goal.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The phrase kāla-yoninā points to the importance of proper timing and order in duties—an applied principle tied to Jyotiṣa (Vedic calendrics/astrology) used to determine appropriate seasons and times for rites and life-stage observances.