Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

क्रियायोगं विना नॄणां ज्ञानयोगो न सिध्यति । क्रियायोगरतस्तस्माच्छ्रद्धया हरिमर्चयेत् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

kriyāyogaṃ vinā nṝṇāṃ jñānayogo na sidhyati | kriyāyogaratastasmācchraddhayā harimarcayet || 32 ||

Translation

Für die Menschen gelingt jñāna-yoga nicht ohne kriyā-yoga, die Disziplin rechten Handelns. Darum soll, wer sich dem kriyā-yoga widmet, Hari (Viṣṇu) mit Śraddhā verehren.

Word by Word

• क्रियायोगम्: the yoga of action (kriyā-yoga)
• क्रियायोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष: ‘क्रियायाः योगः’ (yoga of action)

• विना: without
• विना: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक/वर्जनार्थक अव्यय (preposition: without)

• नॄणाम्: of men, of people
• नॄणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ज्ञानयोगः: the yoga of knowledge (jñāna-yoga)
• ज्ञानयोगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष: ‘ज्ञानस्य योगः’ (yoga of knowledge)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• सिध्यति: is accomplished, succeeds
• सिध्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• क्रियायोगरतः: one devoted to kriyā-yoga
• क्रियायोगरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रियायोग + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष: ‘क्रियायोगे रतः’ (engaged in kriyā-yoga)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययवत् रूप (ablative adverbial: therefore/from that)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• हरिम्: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; causative sense not intended here

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue context of Purva Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that knowledge (jñāna) becomes spiritually effective when grounded in disciplined practice (kriyā), culminating in faithful worship of Hari.

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

It directs the practitioner to express inner understanding through outward worship (arcana) of Vishnu, performed with śraddhā, making devotion the integrating force between action and knowledge.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes kriyā—structured religious practice—implying correct ritual performance (kalpa-oriented discipline) and faithful worship as the practical backbone supporting spiritual realization.