Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

इत्येतैः कर्मभिर्व्याप्ता द्विजा वर्णान्तरं गताः । ब्राह्मणा धर्मतन्त्रस्थास्तपस्तेषां न नश्यति ॥ ६० ॥

Transliteration

ityetaiḥ karmabhirvyāptā dvijā varṇāntaraṃ gatāḥ | brāhmaṇā dharmatantrasthāstapasteṣāṃ na naśyati || 60 ||

Translation

So geraten die Zweifachgeborenen, wenn sie von solchen Handlungen ganz erfüllt sind, in eine andere soziale Ordnung; doch bei den Brahmanen, die in der Zucht des Dharma fest gegründet sind, vergeht ihr Tapas (Askese) nicht.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोगः)

• etaiḥ: by these
• etaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन) — pronoun used adjectivally

• karmabhiḥ: by actions/rites
• karmabhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vyāptāḥ: pervaded/affected
• vyāptāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-āp (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dvijāḥ: twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• varṇa-antaram: another varṇa/class
• varṇa-antaram: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (varṇasya antaram)

• gatāḥ: have gone/attained
• gatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past participle used predicatively (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dharma-tantra-sthāḥ: abiding in the system of dharma
• dharma-tantra-sthāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of brāhmaṇāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + tantra (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (dharma-tantre sthāḥ)

• tapaḥ: austerity/penance
• tapaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)

• naśyati: perishes/is destroyed
• naśyati: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: naś (धातु)
• Form: Lat-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Brahmana
• Dharma
• Tapas
• Varna

FAQs

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

It stresses that mere engagement in actions can pull a person away from their dharmic station, while steadfastness in dharma preserves tapas—inner spiritual power that supports liberation-oriented life (Moksha-Dharma).

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

While not naming bhakti directly, it supports bhakti’s foundation: disciplined dharma and purified conduct. When actions are aligned with dharma-tantra, spiritual strength is protected, making devotion stable rather than distracted by worldly karma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to applied Dharma-śāstra reasoning—proper performance and orientation of karma (ritual/acts) so that one’s tapas and eligibility (adhikāra) are not diminished; it is a practical takeaway for ritual ethics and right conduct.