Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Maṅgalācaraṇa, Naimiṣāraṇya-Sabhā, Sūta-Āhvāna, and Narada Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

यज्ञैर्यज्ञपतिं केचिज्ज्ञानैर्ज्ञानात्मकं परे । केचिच्च परया भक्त्या नारायणमपूजयन् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

yajñairyajñapatiṃ kecijjñānairjñānātmakaṃ pare | kecicca parayā bhaktyā nārāyaṇamapūjayan || 8 ||

Translation

Einige verehrten den Herrn des Opfers durch Opferhandlungen; andere verehrten Ihn, dessen Wesen Erkenntnis ist, durch Erkenntnis. Und wieder andere verehrten Nārāyaṇa mit höchster Bhakti.

Word by Word

• यज्ञैः: by sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• यज्ञपतिम्: the Lord of sacrifice
• यज्ञपतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञस्य पतिः)

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• ज्ञानैः: by knowledges/insights
• ज्ञानैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ज्ञानात्मकम्: whose nature is knowledge
• ज्ञानात्मकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान-आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञानं आत्मा/स्वभावः यस्य)

• परे: others
• परे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेष्यरूपेण (others)

• केचित्: some (others)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• परया: by supreme
• परया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भक्त्या: by devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपूपजयन्: worshipped
• अपूपजयन्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः: अप-

Speaker

Narada (in the opening teaching dialogue, typically addressed to/within the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu (Yajñapati)

FAQs

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

It presents a Narada Purana framework of multiple valid approaches—yajña (ritual), jñāna (realization), and parā-bhakti (supreme devotion)—all directed toward the same Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa.

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

Bhakti is shown as “parayā bhaktyā,” a direct and supreme mode of worship of Nārāyaṇa, emphasizing heartfelt surrender rather than dependence solely on ritual performance or intellectual pursuit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily points to yajña practice (which presupposes correct Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa for mantra recitation and Kalpa for ritual procedure), while also acknowledging jñāna as an inner discipline leading to God-realization.