Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

श्रवणं स्पर्शनं जिह्वा दृष्टिर्नासा तथैव च । इंद्रियाणीति पंचैते चित्तपूर्वंगमा गुणाः ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

śravaṇaṃ sparśanaṃ jihvā dṛṣṭirnāsā tathaiva ca | iṃdriyāṇīti paṃcaite cittapūrvaṃgamā guṇāḥ || 59 ||

Translation

Hören, Tasten, Zunge, Sehen und Nase — diese fünf heißen Sinnesvermögen; und diese Qualitäten wirken, wobei der Geist vorangeht und sie anführt.

Word by Word

• श्रवणम्: hearing (ear)
• श्रवणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (list-item)

• स्पर्शनम्: touch (skin)
• स्पर्शनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

• जिह्वा: tongue
• जिह्वा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दृष्टिः: sight (eye)
• दृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नासा: nose (smell)
• नासा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• इन्द्रियाणि: sense-organs
• इन्द्रियाणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

• इति: thus (called)
• इति: Quotation marker (इत्यर्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनार्थे (used with ‘एते’)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• चित्त-पूर्वंगमाः: preceded by mind
• चित्त-पूर्वंगमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वंगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘चित्तस्य पूर्वंगमाः’ (preceded/led by mind)

• गुणाः: functions/qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It states that the five senses do not operate independently; they move under the leadership of the mind. Therefore, spiritual progress depends on mastering the mind, which in turn steadies the senses.

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

Bhakti requires focused attention on the Lord’s name, form, and qualities. Since the senses follow the mind, training the mind toward remembrance and reverence naturally disciplines sensory distraction and supports steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a direct Vedāṅga lesson, it supports the practical discipline needed for Vedic study and practice—especially for correct recitation and attention in Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar)—because sensory control and mental focus are prerequisites for accurate learning.