Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

द्विधाधिकारि तञ्चित्तं भोक्तृभोगोपपादकम् । बहिः करणभावेन स्वोचितेन यतः सदा ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

dvidhādhikāri tañcittaṃ bhoktṛbhogopapādakam | bahiḥ karaṇabhāvena svocitena yataḥ sadā || 72 ||

Translation

ذلك الذهن (چِتّا) يعمل بسلطانٍ مزدوج: يثبت كلاً من المُتذوِّق/المُختبِر (bhoktṛ) والمُتذوَّق/المُختبَر (bhoga). إذ إنه دائمًا منخرطٌ في حالته اللائقة كأداةٍ خارجية (bahiḥ-karaṇa).

Word by Word

• dvidhā: in two ways
• dvidhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvidhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• adhikāri: having authority/agency
• adhikāri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhikārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• cittam: mind-stuff / citta
• cittam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhoktṛbhogopapādakam: producing the experiencer and the experience
• bhoktṛbhogopapādakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhoktṛ + bhoga + upapādaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष—bhoktṛ-bhoga-upapādakam (that which provides/establishes experiencer and experience)

• bahiḥ: outwardly
• bahiḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• karaṇabhāvena: by the state of being an instrument
• karaṇabhāvena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karaṇa + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष—karaṇasya bhāvaḥ (state as an instrument)

• svocitena: by what is appropriate to itself
• svocitena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + ucita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष—svasya ucitaḥ (appropriate to itself)

• yataḥ: because / since
• yataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Causal indeclinable (हेतुवाचक अव्यय)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक अव्यय)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that bondage arises when the mind functions as the instrument that constructs both the ‘I as experiencer’ (bhoktṛ) and the ‘objects of experience’ (bhoga); recognizing this mechanism supports detachment and liberation.

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

By showing that the mind manufactures experience and identity, the verse implies that bhakti requires redirecting the mind from outward instrumentality to single-pointed remembrance of the Lord, reducing object-centered craving.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical psychological-analytic teaching relevant to Vedanga-style inquiry: understanding the instrumentality of mind/senses (karaṇa-bhāva) as a basis for disciplined practice (yama-niyama, japa, dhyāna) rather than a ritual detail like grammar or astrology.