Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

तत्तद्विद्याक्षरप्रोक्तमौषधं तत्प्रमाणतः । संपिष्य गुटिकीकृत्य ताभिः सर्वं च साधयेत् ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

tattadvidyākṣaraproktamauṣadhaṃ tatpramāṇataḥ | saṃpiṣya guṭikīkṛtya tābhiḥ sarvaṃ ca sādhayet || 88 ||

Translation

One should take the medicinal substance prescribed by the syllables of that vidyā, in the stated measure; grind it, form it into pills, and by means of those pills accomplish all intended rites and results.

Word by Word

• tat-tat-vidyā-akṣara-proktam-auṣadham: the medicine prescribed by the respective vidyā-syllables
• tat-tat-vidyā-akṣara-proktam-auṣadham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + prokta (√vac/ब्रू धातु → prokta, कृदन्त) + auṣadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः — 'medicine prescribed/uttered by those (respective) vidyā-syllables'

• tat-pramāṇataḥ: according to that measure
• tat-pramāṇataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Standard-manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय — 'according to that measure'

• saṃpiṣya: having pounded
• saṃpiṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√piṣ (पिष् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participle) — 'having ground/pounded'; उपसर्गः सम्-

• guṭikī-kṛtya: having made (it) into pills
• guṭikī-kṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: guṭikī (प्रातिपदिक) + √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव — 'having made into pills'

• tābhiḥ: with those
• tābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural) — 'by/with those (pills)'

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular) — 'everything'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• sādhayet: should accomplish/effect
• sādhayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sādh (साध् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Vedanga/technical-science section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a prayoga-based principle: spiritual practice is not only contemplative but also precise—mantric syllables, correct measures, and disciplined preparation are treated as essential supports for attaining intended results (siddhi) in technical rites.

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

While the verse is primarily technical, it implies a bhakti-aligned attitude of faithful adherence (śraddhā) to scriptural prescription—performing what is “prokta” (authoritatively taught) with care, rather than improvisation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure (prayoga) and measurement (pramāṇa), integrating mantra-phonetics (akṣara) with medicinal preparation (auṣadha/guṭikā), reflecting the Narada Purana’s technical-science orientation in Book 1.3.