Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga

Devanagari script

तदीक्षणाय स्वाध्यायश्चक्षुर्योगस्तथापरम् । न मांसचक्षुषा द्रष्टुं ब्रह्मभूतः स शक्यते ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

tadīkṣaṇāya svādhyāyaścakṣuryogastathāparam | na māṃsacakṣuṣā draṣṭuṃ brahmabhūtaḥ sa śakyate || 33 ||

Translation

Um Das zu schauen, ist das «Auge» Svādhyāya und ebenso die höhere Disziplin des Yoga. Wer Brahman geworden ist, kann nicht mit dem fleischlichen Auge gesehen werden.

Word by Word

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• ईक्षणाय: for seeing
• ईक्षणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study
• स्वाध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• चक्षुः: (is) an eye
• चक्षुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• योगः: yoga
• योगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

• अपरम्: another/further
• अपरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• मांसचक्षुषा: with the fleshly eye
• मांसचक्षुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस + चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: मांसस्य चक्षुः

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive/तुमर्थ), क्रियार्थक

• ब्रह्मभूतः: become Brahman / Brahman-realized
• ब्रह्मभूतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (भू धातोः) ‘भूत’; समासः: ब्रह्म-भूतः = ब्रह्मरूपः

• सः: he/that one
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शक्यते: is possible (can be)
• शक्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

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

It teaches that Brahman-realization is an inner seeing gained through svādhyāya and yoga, not an object for ordinary sensory perception.

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

By implying that true ‘darśana’ requires inner purification and steady contemplation; bhakti matures into inward absorption where the Divine is known beyond the senses.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Svādhyāya points to disciplined Vedic recitation and study supported by śikṣā (phonetics) and vyākaraṇa (grammar), used as a means to refine understanding and contemplation.