Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Vyākaraṇa-saṅgraha: Pada–Vibhakti–Kāraka–Lakāra–Samāsa

Devanagari script

स्मृत्यर्थकर्मणि तथा करोतेः प्रतियत्नके । हिंसार्थानां प्रयोगे च कृतिकर्मणि कर्तरि ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

smṛtyarthakarmaṇi tathā karoteḥ pratiyatnake | hiṃsārthānāṃ prayoge ca kṛtikarmaṇi kartari || 16 ||

Translation

Likewise, when an act is performed for the sake of remembrance (smṛty-artha), and when √kṛ “to do” carries the sense of deliberate exertion; and in usages that convey injury; and in actions brought about by an agent’s intentional undertaking—the agent (kartṛ) is understood as the locus and subject of the action.

Word by Word

• स्मृति-अर्थ-कर्मणि: in an act done for remembrance
• स्मृति-अर्थ-कर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (स्मृत्यर्थं कर्म); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अर्थ-निर्देशे

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; likewise)

• करोतेः: of ‘karoti’ (from √kṛ, to do)
• करोतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: धातुनिर्देशः; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘करोति’ इति रूपस्य (of the verb ‘karoti’)

• प्रति-यत्नके: in the sense of counter-effort/endeavor
• प्रति-यत्नके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + यत्नक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (प्रति + यत्नक); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अर्थ-निर्देशे (in the sense of counter-effort/striving)

• हिंसा-अर्थानाम्: of (verbs/words) having the sense of harming
• हिंसा-अर्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिंसा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (हिंसायाः अर्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• प्रयोगे: in usage/application
• प्रयोगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• कृति-कर्मणि: in the sense of a produced/resultant act
• कृति-कर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृति (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (कृतिः कर्म); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अर्थ-निर्देशे (in the sense of an action as a product/result)

• कर्तरि: in the agent (doer)
• कर्तरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अर्थ-निर्देशे (in the agent)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical, Vedanga-style exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It ties inner intention (prayatna) to the identification of the doer (kartṛ), implying that moral and spiritual responsibility in karma depends on deliberate agency, not merely on outward motion.

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

Indirectly, it clarifies that devotion is not just external ritual action—when acts are performed with conscious purpose (such as remembrance), the agent’s intentionality becomes central, aligning practice with mindful remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa (grammar): it discusses how verbal usage and semantic conditions—remembrance-purpose, deliberate effort, and हिंसा-meaning expressions—govern the interpretation of agency (kartṛ) in an action.