Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

भृगुरुवाच । जातकर्मादिभिर्यस्तु संस्कारैः संस्कृतः शुचिः । वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नो ब्रह्मकर्मस्ववस्थितः ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

bhṛguruvāca | jātakarmādibhiryastu saṃskāraiḥ saṃskṛtaḥ śuciḥ | vedādhyayanasaṃpanno brahmakarmasvavasthitaḥ || 64 ||

Translation

Bhṛgu sprach: Wer durch die Saṃskāras, beginnend mit den Geburtsriten (jātakarma), geläutert wurde, wer rein ist, im Studium der Veden vollendet und fest in den Werken Brahmans (brahma-karma), in priesterlicher Pflicht, gegründet bleibt—

Word by Word

• bhṛguḥ: Bhṛgu
• bhṛguḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• jāta-karma-ādibhiḥ: by (rites) such as the birth-rite etc.
• jāta-karma-ādibhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāta (कृदन्त) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः: (jāta-karma) कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भावः + ādi; overall: ‘by rites beginning with jāta-karma’

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन) — relative pronoun

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (अन्वय/विरोध)

• saṃskāraiḥ: by sacraments/purificatory rites
• saṃskāraiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃskāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saṃskṛtaḥ: purified/refined
• saṃskṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective of yaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ-skṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śuciḥ: pure
• śuciḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• veda-adhyayana-saṃpannaḥ: accomplished in Vedic study
• veda-adhyayana-saṃpannaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + adhyayana (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpanna (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (veda-adhyayanena saṃpannaḥ)

• brahma-karmasu: in Brahminical duties
• brahma-karmasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः (brahmaṇaḥ karmāṇi)

• avasthitaḥ: steadfast/established
• avasthitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-sthā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Bhṛgu

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu

FAQs

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

It presents the traditional qualifications of a spiritually disciplined person: inner and outer purity cultivated through saṃskāras, sustained Vedic study, and steadiness in brahma-karmas—seen as supports for Moksha-oriented dharma.

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

While it does not directly mention bhakti, it frames the foundational purity and Vedic discipline that Narada Purana often treats as supportive disciplines (aṅgas) that steady the mind and conduct, making devotion and higher contemplation stable.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes vedādhyayana (systematic Vedic study) and saṃskāra-based ritual culture—closely tied to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Shiksha/Vyakarana as practical supports for correct recitation and understanding.