Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

सर्वे पश्यंति यदृश्यं मनोयुक्तेन चक्षुषा । मनसि व्याकुले चक्षुः पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

sarve paśyaṃti yadṛśyaṃ manoyuktena cakṣuṣā | manasi vyākule cakṣuḥ paśyannapi na paśyati || 35 ||

Translation

All beings see what is to be seen only with eyes joined to the mind. When the mind is disturbed, the eye—even while looking—does not truly see.

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all (people)
• सर्वे: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पश्यन्ति: see
• पश्यन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• यत्: that which
• यत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे—यद्-तद् (relative)

• दृश्यम्: visible (object)
• दृश्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मनः-युक्तेन: with (the eye) connected to the mind
• मनः-युक्तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त, √युज्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (चक्षुषा-सह साधनत्वे)

• चक्षुषा: with the eye
• चक्षुषा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मनसि: in the mind
• मनसि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• व्याकुले: disturbed
• व्याकुले: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; मनसि इति विशेषण

• चक्षुः: the eye
• चक्षुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पश्यन्: seeing (even while seeing)
• पश्यन्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चक्षुः इति कर्तरि

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; ‘even/also’

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• पश्यति: sees
• पश्यति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that perception is not merely sensory but mental: without a steady mind, even direct experience remains ungrasped, so liberation requires mastery of the mind.

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

Bhakti depends on attentive remembrance (smaraṇa) and focused hearing (śravaṇa); an agitated mind cannot truly “see” the Lord’s presence even when sacred forms, names, and teachings are before it.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly supports disciplined recitation and study: without mental steadiness, even correct hearing/reading (linked to Śikṣā—proper reception of sound) fails to yield understanding.