Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation

Devanagari script

तपसा गुरुवृत्त्या च ब्रह्मचर्येण चान्वितः । देवतानां पितॄणां च ह्यतृष्णश्चानसूयकः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

tapasā guruvṛttyā ca brahmacaryeṇa cānvitaḥ | devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca hyatṛṣṇaścānasūyakaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

Pourvu d’austérité (tapas), d’une conduite conforme au maître et de la discipline du brahmacarya, il demeure sans convoitise envers les dieux et les ancêtres, et sans jalousie ni esprit de reproche.

Word by Word

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• गुरुवृत्त्या: by service/conduct toward the teacher
• गुरुवृत्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु-वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुरोः वृत्तिः) समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• ब्रह्मचर्येण: by celibate studentship
• ब्रह्मचर्येण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अन्वितः: endowed (with)
• अन्वितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वि-इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (endowed/possessed of)

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• अतृष्णः: free from craving
• अतृष्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-तृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेधार्थ; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अनसूयकः: non-envious, not fault-finding
• अनसूयकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनसूयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on moksha-dharma qualities)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitrs
• Guru

FAQs

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

It defines the inner marks of a moksha-oriented seeker: tapas, guru-aligned conduct, and brahmacarya, coupled with detachment from reward-seeking even in deva- or pitṛ-related merit, and a mind free of envy.

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

By rejecting craving for deva/pitṛ results, the verse points to devotion that is not transactional; bhakti becomes single-pointed and pure when discipline and humility replace desire for heavenly or ancestral fruits.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Not a technical Vedanga lesson, but a practical dharmic discipline: guru-seva (proper student conduct), brahmacarya (regulated life), and tapas—foundational supports for study and practice of Shastra.