Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

विश्वी सूक्ष्मा परा माया विकृतैः परत्तु सा । कर्माण्यावेक्ष्य विद्येशो मायां विक्षोभ्य शक्तिभिः ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

viśvī sūkṣmā parā māyā vikṛtaiḥ parattu sā | karmāṇyāvekṣya vidyeśo māyāṃ vikṣobhya śaktibhiḥ || 45 ||

Translation

That supreme Māyā is universal and subtle; yet she is distinct from and beyond the manifested modifications. Observing the karma of beings, the Lord—the Master of knowledge—stirs Māyā through His powers (śaktis).

Word by Word

• विश्वी: all-pervading/universal
• विश्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of māyā)

• सूक्ष्मा: subtle
• सूक्ष्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• परा: supreme
• परा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• माया: māyā
• माया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विकृतैः: by modifications/transformations
• विकृतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• परा: supreme
• परा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (re-asserted)

• तु: but/however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (adversative/emphatic particle)

• सा: she/that (māyā)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कर्माणि: actions
• कर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• आवेक्ष्य: having observed/considered
• आवेक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययकृदन्त; ‘having observed/considered’

• विद्येशः: Vidyeśa (Lord of knowledge)
• विद्येशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Lord of knowledge)

• मायाम्: māyā
• मायाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विक्षोभ्य: having agitated
• विक्षोभ्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + क्षुभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययकृदन्त; ‘having agitated/stirred’

• शक्तिभिः: by powers/energies
• शक्तिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maya
• Vidyesha (Lord of Knowledge)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Māyā is a subtle, universal divine power, activated under the Lord’s governance in response to karma—so liberation requires seeing the Lord as the controller, not Māyā as independent.

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

By implying that the Lord (Vidyeśa) directs Māyā through His śaktis, it supports bhakti as surrender to the Lord who rules the karmic field, rather than attachment to changing appearances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A Vedāṅga-oriented takeaway is the principle of causality and governance: actions (karma) have ordered results within Māyā, suggesting disciplined ritual and conduct (kalpa/dharma) must align with right knowledge of the Lord’s śakti.