Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

सञ्चिदानंदरूपोऽहमात्मानमिति भावयेत् । ततः समाचरेद्देहकृत्यं देवार्चनं तथा ॥ ९६ ॥

Transliteration

sañcidānaṃdarūpo'hamātmānamiti bhāvayet | tataḥ samācareddehakṛtyaṃ devārcanaṃ tathā || 96 ||

Translation

One should contemplate: “I am the Ātman whose very nature is Existence, Consciousness, and Bliss (Sat–Cit–Ānanda).” Thereafter, one should duly perform the duties of the body, and likewise the worship of the Deity.

Word by Word

• सत्: being; existence
• सत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); समासाङ्ग (compound-member)

• चित्: consciousness
• चित्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom/Acc, Singular); समासाङ्ग

• आनन्द: bliss
• आनन्द: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom/Acc, Singular); समासाङ्ग

• रूपः: (one) whose form is existence-consciousness-bliss
• रूपः: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate nominative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीहि-सदृश प्रयोगः: सत्-चित्-आनन्द-रूपः (one whose form is sat-cit-ānanda)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Pronoun, 1st person, Nominative, Singular)

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• भावयेत्: should contemplate/meditate
• भावयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/विधिलिङ्-सदृश निर्देश), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Imperative/optative sense: should/let him contemplate), causative sense in usage: ‘to cause to be in mind/meditate’

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/क्रमवाचक (adverb: thereafter)

• समाचरेत्: should perform/practise
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आचर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Optative, 3rd sg) उपसर्ग: सम्- (sam-)

• देहकृत्यम्: bodily duties
• देहकृत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देहस्य कृत्यम्

• देवार्चनम्: worship of the gods
• देवार्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देवानाम् अर्चनम्

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: likewise/also)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

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 a balanced sādhanā: establish the inner vision of the Self as sat-cit-ānanda, and then carry that clarity into disciplined daily duties and formal deity-worship.

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

Bhakti is not rejected after knowledge; rather, devārcana (deity worship) is to be performed after grounding oneself in right understanding, making worship steadier and less ego-driven.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes nitya-karma and upāsanā procedure—performing deha-kṛtya (daily bodily disciplines and purity-related acts) followed by devārcana—reflecting applied dharma and ritual order rather than a specific Vedāṅga technicality.