Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

परं ज्योतिस्स्वरूपस्य परिपूर्णाव्ययात्मनः । अविच्छिन्नस्वभावस्य कथ्यते च कथं क्रिया ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

paraṃ jyotissvarūpasya paripūrṇāvyayātmanaḥ | avicchinnasvabhāvasya kathyate ca kathaṃ kriyā || 65 ||

Translation

Quant au Suprême, dont la forme même est la Lumière suprême—plein, impérissable en essence et de nature ininterrompue—comment pourrait-on seulement parler d’« action », et de quelle manière cela serait-il possible ?

Word by Word

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• jyotis-svarūpasya: of whose form is light
• jyotis-svarūpasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive 6th (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• paripūrṇa-avyaya-ātmanaḥ: of the Self that is complete and imperishable
• paripūrṇa-avyaya-ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paripūrṇa + avyaya + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound (multi-member); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive 6th (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• avicchinna-svabhāvasya: of uninterrupted nature
• avicchinna-svabhāvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + vicchinna + svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular

• kathyate: is spoken/said
• kathyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive-like sense ‘is said’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• katham: how
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Interrogative modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-अव्यय)

• kriyā: action/activity
• kriyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—‘action’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative 1st (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (questioning, in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It points to the Upanishadic insight that the Supreme Reality is pure Light/Consciousness—complete and imperishable—so ordinary notions of doing (kriyā/karma) cannot truly apply to it.

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

By distinguishing the actionless Supreme essence from worldly action, it prepares the bhakta to worship with inner surrender—seeing rituals and deeds as aids for purification, while knowing the Lord’s highest nature transcends action.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It mainly clarifies a Vedanta-style distinction between karma (action) and the actionless Absolute; no specific Vedanga technique (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa ritual procedure) is directly taught in this verse.