Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

प्रवृत्तौ च निवृत्तौ च साम्यमुद्दिष्टमेतयोः । शङ्खचक्रधरं शान्तं नारायणमनामयम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

pravṛttau ca nivṛttau ca sāmyamuddiṣṭametayoḥ | śaṅkhacakradharaṃ śāntaṃ nārāyaṇamanāmayam || 40 ||

Translation

Sowohl in pravṛtti (Tätigkeit) als auch in nivṛtti (Rückzug) ist eine wesentliche Gleichheit aufgezeigt worden. Diese Gleichheit ist Nārāyaṇa—friedvoll und frei von Leid—der Träger von Muschel und Diskus.

Word by Word

• pravṛttau: in activity/engagement (pravṛtti)
• pravṛttau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• nivṛttau: in withdrawal/cessation (nivṛtti)
• nivṛttau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• sāmyam: equality/sameness
• sāmyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1st), Singular

• uddiṣṭam: is indicated/taught
• uddiṣṭam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√diś (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta—Past Passive Participle (क्त), Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative Singular; ‘is indicated/taught’

• etayoḥ: of these two
• etayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th), Dual; ‘of these two’

• śaṅkha-cakra-dharam: bearing conch and discus
• śaṅkha-cakra-dharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—śaṅkhaṃ ca cakraṃ ca dharati iti (bearer of conch and discus)

• śāntam: peaceful
• śāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• anāmayam: free from disease/blemish
• anāmayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-āmaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; privative a- (नञ्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narayaṇa (Vishnu)
• Shankha
• Chakra

FAQs

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

It teaches that both paths—active life (pravṛtti) and renunciation (nivṛtti)—share the same ultimate essence: realization and refuge in peaceful, flawless Nārāyaṇa.

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

By identifying Nārāyaṇa as the common ground of both life-paths, it implies that bhakti to Vishnu can sanctify action and also perfect renunciation, making devotion the unifying spiritual orientation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is doctrinal: align either ritual/action or renunciation with contemplation of Nārāyaṇa (śaṅkha-cakra-dhara) as the stable focus.