Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Sanatkumāra’s Bhāgavata Tantra: Tattvas, Māyā-Bonds, Embodiment, and the Necessity of Dīkṣā

Devanagari script

त्रिपदार्थं चतुष्पादं महातंत्रं प्रचक्षते । भोगमोक्षक्रियाचर्याह्वया पादाः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

tripadārthaṃ catuṣpādaṃ mahātaṃtraṃ pracakṣate | bhogamokṣakriyācaryāhvayā pādāḥ prakīrtitāḥ || 13 ||

Translation

Man bezeichnet das Mahātantra als ein großes Tantra mit drei Hauptzielen und vier Abschnitten (pādas). Diese Abschnitte werden verkündet als: Bhoga, Mokṣa, Kriyā und Caryā.

Word by Word

• त्रिपद-अर्थम्: having three meanings/objects
• त्रिपद-अर्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘त्रिपदानां अर्थः’ इति; विशेषणं ‘महातन्त्रम्’

• चतुष्पादम्: four-footed/four-part
• चतुष्पादम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘चत्वारः पादाः यस्य’ (समासार्थे बहुव्रीहिसदृशः, परन्तु द्विगु-समासरूपेण) विशेषणं ‘महातन्त्रम्’

• महातन्त्रम्: the great tantra
• महातन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रचक्षते: they declare/call
• प्रचक्षते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भोग: enjoyment
• भोग: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• मोक्ष: liberation
• मोक्ष: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग

• क्रिया: ritual action
• क्रिया: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग

• चर्या: conduct/practice
• चर्या: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग

• आह्वया: by the designation/name
• आह्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘नाम्ना/आह्वयेन’ (by the name)

• पादाः: parts/quarters
• पादाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘are proclaimed’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It classifies the Mahātantra as a complete śāstric system: it recognizes both human aims (bhoga and mokṣa) and the means to reach them (kriyā and caryā), showing that right practice and right conduct are essential to higher realization.

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

By pairing mokṣa with kriyā and caryā, the verse implies that liberation-oriented devotion is not merely sentiment—it is supported by disciplined conduct (caryā) and prescribed devotional/ritual actions (kriyā), a common Narada Purana approach to Vishnu-bhakti praxis.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects śāstra-vidyā classification used in technical traditions: it organizes practice into ritual procedure (kriyā) and regulated discipline (caryā), aligning with Vedāṅga-informed ritual structure (especially Kalpa/ritual method) rather than narrative theology alone.