Shloka 12

Yamavākya

The Words of Yama

Devanagari script

योगसांख्यावुभौ त्यक्त्वा ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं च मानद । त्यक्त्वा स्वाध्यायहोमांश्च कृत्वा पापानि भूरिशः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

yogasāṃkhyāvubhau tyaktvā jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ ca mānada | tyaktvā svādhyāyahomāṃśca kṛtvā pāpāni bhūriśaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

O bestower of honor, having abandoned both Yoga and Sāṅkhya—indeed abandoning even knowledge and the object of knowledge—and giving up Vedic study and homa oblations as well, he commits abundant sins.

Word by Word

• योग-सांख्यौ: Yoga and Sāṃkhya
• योग-सांख्यौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + सांख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Accusative dual (as a pair)

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Accusative dual qualifying योग-सांख्यौ

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having abandoned’

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• ज्ञेयम्: the knowable (object of knowledge)
• ज्ञेयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘that which is to be known/knowable’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मानद: O bestower of honor
• मानद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative (epithet: ‘giver of honor’)

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• स्वाध्याय-होमान्: self-study (Vedic recitation) and fire-offerings
• स्वाध्याय-होमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय + होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having done/committed’

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• भूरिशः: abundantly, in great measure
• भूरिशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूरिशस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

The verse warns that rejecting all authentic disciplines—Yoga, Sāṅkhya, true knowledge, and core Vedic duties like svādhyāya and homa—does not create liberation; it produces moral collapse and accumulated pāpa.

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

By implication, genuine Bhakti is not anti-dharma: devotion is meant to be aligned with sattvic conduct and reverence for sacred practice, not used as a pretext to abandon discipline and fall into wrongdoing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Svādhyāya points to disciplined Vedic recitation and study—supported by Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar)—and homa reflects ritual competence tied to Kalpa (procedure), emphasizing that neglecting these foundations erodes dharmic life.