Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 119

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

अगर्भश्च सगर्भश्च द्वितीयस्तु तयोर्वरः । जयध्यानं विनागर्भः सगर्भस्तत्समन्वितः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

agarbhaśca sagarbhaśca dvitīyastu tayorvaraḥ | jayadhyānaṃ vināgarbhaḥ sagarbhastatsamanvitaḥ || 19 ||

Translation

La méditation (dhyāna) est de deux sortes : sans support (nirgarbha) et avec support (sagarbha). Entre les deux, la seconde—la méditation avec support—est tenue pour supérieure. « Jaya-dhyāna » est la méditation sans support ; celle avec support est celle qui s’y joint, s’appuyant sur une forme, un mantra ou un attribut sacré.

Word by Word

• अगर्भः: without ‘garbha’ (without inner support/seed)
• अगर्भः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (नञ्) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (गर्भरहितः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सगर्भः: with ‘garbha’ (with inner support/seed)
• सगर्भः: Karta (कर्ता/Co-subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स- (सह) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गार्थ (गर्भसहितः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• द्वितीयः: the second
• द्वितीयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सगर्भः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (द्वितीयः प्रकारः)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Genitive dual)

• वरः: superior; better
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘द्वितीयः’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषण

• जयध्यानम्: meditation on ‘Jaya’ (victory/Name)
• जयध्यानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जयस्य ध्यानम्)

• विना: without
• विना: Apadana (अपादान/Separation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (without; governs accusative)

• गर्भः: garbha; inner support/seed
• गर्भः: Apadana (अपादान/With विना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विना’ इत्यस्य योगे

• सगर्भः: with garbha
• सगर्भः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स- (सह) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्: with that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति?; वस्तुतः समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण (तद्-समन्वितः)

• समन्वितः: endowed with; accompanied by
• समन्वितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अन्वि/इ (धातु) → समन्वित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सगर्भः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dialogue on dhyāna)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It classifies meditation into supportless and supported forms and recommends supported meditation as more effective for most seekers, emphasizing a structured contemplative approach that stabilizes the mind and leads toward liberation.

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

By favoring sagarbha (supported) meditation, it aligns with bhakti-upāsanā—contemplation using a tangible support such as the Lord’s form, names, qualities, or mantra—making devotion practical and steady.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a direct Vedāṅga lesson, it implies disciplined upāsanā using mantra and properly articulated recitation—an applied bridge to Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (correct forms) in devotional practice.