Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Sanatkumāra’s Bhāgavata Tantra: Tattvas, Māyā-Bonds, Embodiment, and the Necessity of Dīkṣā

Devanagari script

प्रकाशरूपं विद्याख्यं तत्त्वं सूते कलैव हि । विद्या त्वावरणं भित्वा ज्ञानशक्तेः स्वकर्मणा ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

prakāśarūpaṃ vidyākhyaṃ tattvaṃ sūte kalaiva hi | vidyā tvāvaraṇaṃ bhitvā jñānaśakteḥ svakarmaṇā || 52 ||

Translation

حقًّا إنّ المبدأ المسمّى «فِدْيَا»—وطبيعته نور—يُنشئ الكَلا (قوّة التجلّي). غير أنّ فِدْيَا، بوظيفتها الذاتية، تشقّ الحجاب الذي يستر شَكتي المعرفة.

Word by Word

• प्रकाश-रूपम्: having the form of light; luminous
• प्रकाश-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तत्त्वम् इति)

• विद्या-आख्यम्: called 'Vidyā'
• विद्या-आख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तत्त्वम् इति)

• तत्त्वम्: principle; reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सूते: brings forth; produces
• सूते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कला: the power/portion (kalā)
• कला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: only; indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (restrictive particle)

• हि: for; indeed
• हि: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुबोधक/निपात (particle indicating reason/emphasis)

• विद्या: Vidyā (knowledge-power)
• विद्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (adversative particle)

• आवरणम्: covering; veil
• आवरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भित्वा: having broken through
• भित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), 'having broken/pierced'

• ज्ञान-शक्तेः: of the power of knowledge
• ज्ञान-शक्तेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्व-कर्मणा: by its own function/action
• स्व-कर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन; करणवाचक

Speaker

Suta

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 defines true Vidyā as luminous and liberating: its intrinsic function is to pierce the veil (āvaraṇa) that obscures jñāna-śakti, enabling direct clarity and realization rather than mere information.

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

While the verse is framed in jñāna-language, it supports bhakti by implying that authentic spiritual practice must remove inner obscuration; bhakti becomes effective when it is joined to clarifying vidyā that reveals the Lord’s truth without mental covering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the Vedāṅga-style principle of removing obscuration through correct knowledge and method (sva-karmanā): technical disciplines (like śikṣā and vyākaraṇa) serve as tools that refine understanding so the ‘power of knowledge’ can operate unobstructed.