Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court

Devanagari script

तद्भावभागी तद्बुद्धिस्तदात्मा तदुपाश्रयः । तेजसा तस्य लोकांस्त्रीन्यशः प्राप्स्यति केवलम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

tadbhāvabhāgī tadbuddhistadātmā tadupāśrayaḥ | tejasā tasya lokāṃstrīnyaśaḥ prāpsyati kevalam || 17 ||

Translation

An Seinem eigenen Sein teilhabend—mit auf Ihn gerichteter Erkenntnis, das Selbst mit Ihm eins setzend und allein bei Ihm Zuflucht nehmend—erlangt er durch die Macht des göttlichen Glanzes die drei Welten und ungeteilten Ruhm.

Word by Word

• tad-bhāva-bhāgī: a sharer in that state/nature
• tad-bhāva-bhāgī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'तस्य भावस्य भागी'

• tad-buddhiḥ: his/that understanding
• tad-buddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'तस्य बुद्धिः'

• tad-ātmā: whose very self is that
• tad-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'तदात्मा' = 'यस्य आत्मा तत् (that is his very self)'

• tad-upāśrayaḥ: having that as refuge
• tad-upāśrayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + upāśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'तस्य उपाश्रयः'

• tejasā: by (his) splendor
• tejasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• lokān: worlds
• lokān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• trīn: three
• trīn: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• yaśaḥ: fame
• yaśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• prāpsyati: will attain
• prāpsyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• kevalam: only, solely
• kevalam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial use of adjective), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented life (moksha dharma) culminates in complete God-centered identity: sharing the Lord’s bhāva, fixing the mind on Him, and taking exclusive refuge—resulting in spiritual radiance and supreme honor.

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

Bhakti here is defined as total absorption and reliance: the devotee’s intellect (buddhi) and sense of self (ātman) are offered to the Lord, and through that single-minded refuge (upāśraya) the devotee gains divine potency and exalted attainment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; it emphasizes practical moksha dharma—inner discipline of mind (buddhi-niṣṭhā) and refuge (śaraṇāgati)—as the operative method rather than ritual or technical sciences.