Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Janaka’s Quest for Liberation; Pañcaśikha’s Sāṅkhya on Renunciation, Elements, Guṇas, and the Deathless State

Devanagari script

इष्टिमंत्रेण संयुक्तो भूयश्च तपसासुरिः । क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्व्यक्तिं विबुधे देहदर्शनः ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

iṣṭimaṃtreṇa saṃyukto bhūyaśca tapasāsuriḥ | kṣetrakṣetrajñayorvyaktiṃ vibudhe dehadarśanaḥ || 14 ||

Translation

Mit dem iṣṭi-Mantra ausgestattet und durch Askese weiter gestärkt, erkannte der Weise Āsuri klar den Unterschied zwischen Kṣetra (dem Feld) und Kṣetrajña (dem Kenner des Feldes), durch unmittelbare Einsicht in das Wesen des Körpers.

Word by Word

• इष्टिमन्त्रेण: by the iṣṭi-mantra
• इष्टिमन्त्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्टि + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘mantra of iṣṭi’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• संयुक्तः: joined/associated
• संयुक्तः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘joined/connected’

• भूयः: again / further
• भूयः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb: ‘again, further’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/Conjunction)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• असुरिः: Āsuri
• असुरिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोः: of the field and the knower of the field
• क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र + क्षेत्रज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; Genitive dual

• व्यक्तिम्: manifestation / clear distinction
• व्यक्तिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• विबुधे: he understood / realized
• विबुधे: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular, Ātmanepada (sense: ‘understood/realized’)

• देहदर्शनः: (Āsuri) the body-seer / one who perceived the body
• देहदर्शनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘vision of the body’ / ‘one whose vision is of the body’ as epithet); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (epithet of Āsuri)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Asuri

FAQs

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

It highlights moksha-oriented discernment: by mantra-discipline and tapas one gains clear knowledge of the body as kṣetra (field) and the Self as kṣetrajña (knower), which is foundational for liberation.

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

While primarily jñāna-focused, it supports bhakti by purifying the practitioner through sacred mantra and austerity—making the mind fit for steady devotion and God-centered contemplation beyond bodily identity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implies disciplined mantra-application in ritual context (iṣṭi), aligning with Vedanga concerns like Śikṣā (correct recitation) and Kalpa (ritual procedure), used here as aids to inner discrimination.