Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

इति मे संशयो ब्रह्मन्हृदये परिधावति । त निवर्तय सर्वज्ञ यतस्त्वामाश्रितो ह्यहम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

iti me saṃśayo brahmanhṛdaye paridhāvati | ta nivartaya sarvajña yatastvāmāśrito hyaham || 16 ||

Translation

So, o Brahmane, jagt dieser Zweifel unaufhörlich durch mein Herz. Nimm ihn hinweg, o Allwissender, denn wahrlich habe ich bei dir Zuflucht genommen.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• हृदये: in (my) heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• परिधावति: runs about, whirls
• परिधावति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि√धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तम्: that (doubt)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; (संशयम्) इति अन्वयः

• निवर्तय: remove, dispel
• निवर्तय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative) भावार्थः

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वः ज्ञः)

• यतः: since, because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय/सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal conjunction: 'since/because')

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having taken refuge (in)
• आश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√श्रि (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman (addressed sage/teacher)
• Sarvajna (omniscient teacher)

FAQs

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

It highlights saṁśaya-nivṛtti (removal of doubt) as essential for Moksha: the seeker admits inner agitation and approaches the realized, “sarvajña” teacher for decisive clarity grounded in refuge (āśraya).

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

By stating “tvām āśrito ’ham,” the speaker models śaraṇāgati (taking refuge). Bhakti matures when doubts are surrendered to the guru and resolved, enabling steady remembrance and practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is the Vedic method of inquiry—raising saṁśaya and seeking nirṇaya (certainty) from a competent teacher, which supports correct recitation, meaning, and practice.