Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

The Description of the Glory of the Purāṇa

Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

योगमष्टांगसंयुक्तं प्राह प्रणतवत्सलः । स लब्ध्वा शांभवं ज्ञानं शंकराल्लोकशंकरात् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

yogamaṣṭāṃgasaṃyuktaṃ prāha praṇatavatsalaḥ | sa labdhvā śāṃbhavaṃ jñānaṃ śaṃkarāllokaśaṃkarāt || 23 ||

Translation

Compasivo con quienes se postran reverentes, enseñó el Yoga dotado de los ocho miembros. Habiendo recibido de Śaṅkara, bienhechor de los mundos, el conocimiento Śāmbhava, lo proclamó.

Word by Word

• योगम्: yoga
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अष्टाङ्ग-संयुक्तम्: endowed with eight limbs
• अष्टाङ्ग-संयुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past passive participle)

• प्राह: said / spoke
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रणत-वत्सलः: affectionate to the bowed (devotees)
• प्रणत-वत्सलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणत (कृदन्त; √नम् (धातु) + क्त) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of the speaker)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• शाम्भवम्: Śaiva / belonging to Śambhu
• शाम्भवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ज्ञानम्)

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

• शंकरात्: from Śaṅkara
• शंकरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• लोक-शंकरात्: from the benefactor of the world
• लोक-शंकरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य शंकरः)

Speaker

Narada (narrative attribution within the Anukramaṇikā-style summary)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)
• Shambhu

FAQs

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

It frames aṣṭāṅga-yoga as a transmitted, authoritative discipline rooted in divine insight (Śāmbhava-jñāna), emphasizing that true yogic teaching is grounded in realized knowledge and compassion for sincere seekers.

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

By highlighting “praṇata-vatsalaḥ” (one who is tender to those who bow), it implies that humility, reverence, and surrender make the aspirant fit to receive higher instruction—linking devotion to eligibility for yoga and liberating knowledge.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is named; the practical takeaway is disciplined practice of aṣṭāṅga-yoga (ethical restraints, observances, posture, breath, sense-withdrawal, concentration, meditation, samādhi) as the applied method.