Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Janaka’s Quest for Liberation; Pañcaśikha’s Sāṅkhya on Renunciation, Elements, Guṇas, and the Deathless State

Devanagari script

जातिनिर्वेदमुक्त्वा स कर्मनिर्वेदमब्रवीत् । कर्मनिर्वेदमुक्त्वा च सर्वनिर्वेदमब्रवीत् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

jātinirvedamuktvā sa karmanirvedamabravīt | karmanirvedamuktvā ca sarvanirvedamabravīt || 22 ||

Translation

Après avoir parlé du détachement à l’égard de l’identité de caste, il parla du détachement à l’égard des actes (karma). Et après avoir parlé du détachement à l’égard des actes, il parla du détachement complet envers toute chose.

Word by Word

• जातिनिर्वेदम्: dispassion regarding birth/caste
• जातिनिर्वेदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जात्या निर्वेदः)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय/gerund)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल

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

• कर्मनिर्वेदम्: dispassion regarding actions
• कर्मनिर्वेदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कर्मणां निर्वेदः)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कर्मनिर्वेदम्: dispassion regarding actions
• कर्मनिर्वेदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय/gerund)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वनिर्वेदम्: complete/universal dispassion
• सर्वनिर्वेदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वः निर्वेदः/सर्वविषयकः निर्वेदः)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It outlines a graded ladder of renunciation: first detachment from social identity (jāti), then from action and its results (karma), culminating in total dispassion (sarva-nirveda) that supports liberation.

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

By loosening attachment to identity and fruit-seeking action, the mind becomes single-pointed and fit for pure devotion—service offered without ego or expectation, which is the mature ground for Vishnu-bhakti in Moksha-Dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual discipline: reduce identity-pride and fruit-motive in ritual and daily duties, aligning karma with inner renunciation.