Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

कथं च त्रिविधं कर्म सफलं जायते नृणाम् । ज्ञानस्य लक्षणं ब्रूत तपसश्चापि मानदाः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

kathaṃ ca trividhaṃ karma saphalaṃ jāyate nṛṇām | jñānasya lakṣaṇaṃ brūta tapasaścāpi mānadāḥ || 19 ||

Translation

Et comment l’action triple (karma) des hommes devient-elle féconde ? Dites-moi le signe de la vraie connaissance (jñāna) et aussi celui de l’austérité (tapas), ô vénérables.

Word by Word

• katham: how
• katham: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (कथम्)
• Form: Interrogative Adverb

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• trividham: three-fold
• trividham: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trividha (त्रिविध)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• karma: action/karma
• karma: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (कर्मन्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• saphalam: fruitful
• saphalam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saphala (सफल)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jāyate: becomes/is born
• jāyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (जन्)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Atmanepada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• nṛṇām: of men
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (नृ)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• jñānasya: of knowledge
• jñānasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (ज्ञान)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• lakṣaṇam: characteristic
• lakṣaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (लक्षण)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• brūta: tell/speak
• brūta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama Purusha (2nd), Plural

• tapasaḥ: of austerity
• tapasaḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (तपस्)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अपि)
• Form: Conjunction/Particle

• mānadāḥ: O givers of honor
• mānadāḥ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānada (मानद)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन), Plural

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

This verse frames the core inquiry of sādhanā: what makes human action truly result-bearing, and how to recognize genuine jñāna and tapas—foundational criteria for progress toward dharma and mokṣa.

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

Indirectly, it prepares the ground for bhakti by asking what makes karma “fruitful”; in Narada Purana, fruitful practice is typically aligned with right understanding and disciplined living, which culminate in steady devotion to Bhagavan.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to the need for lakṣaṇa (precise definition/criteria), a method central to śāstric study and Vedāṅga disciplines like Vyākaraṇa and Mīmāṃsā, which determine correct meaning and proper performance of karma.