Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

Sanatkumāra’s Bhāgavata Tantra: Tattvas, Māyā-Bonds, Embodiment, and the Necessity of Dīkṣā

Devanagari script

मंत्राराधनसामर्थ्यात्तद्भुक्त्वा मोक्षमश्नुते । नित्यं नैमित्तिकं दीक्षां प्राप्य यो नाचरेन्नरः ॥ ११७ ॥

Transliteration

maṃtrārādhanasāmarthyāttadbhuktvā mokṣamaśnute | nityaṃ naimittikaṃ dīkṣāṃ prāpya yo nācarennaraḥ || 117 ||

Translation

Par la puissance acquise grâce à l’adoration correcte des mantras, on jouit de ses fruits puis l’on atteint la délivrance (mokṣa). Mais celui qui, ayant reçu la dīkṣā pour les rites quotidiens et occasionnels, ne les accomplit pas, manque à son devoir.

Word by Word

• मन्त्र-आराधन-सामर्थ्यात्: from the efficacy of mantra-worship
• मन्त्र-आराधन-सामर्थ्यात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आराधन (प्रातिपदिक) + सामर्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; कारणार्थे 'from/through the power of mantra-worship'

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'that' referring to (that fruit/enjoyment)

• भुक्त्वा: having enjoyed
• भुक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अश्नुते: attains
• अश्नुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: daily/regular
• नित्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying 'दीक्षाम्' (daily/perpetual)

• नैमित्तिकम्: occasional (for a cause)
• नैमित्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैमित्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying 'दीक्षाम्' (occasional)

• दीक्षाम्: initiation/observance
• दीक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); 'having obtained'

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; relative pronoun

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• आचरेत्: should practice
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (न + आचरेत्) = 'should not practice'

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to 'यः'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It links mantra-worship (mantrārādhana) with both worldly fruition and final liberation, while warning that initiation (dīkṣā) has value only when followed by disciplined performance of prescribed duties.

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

It presents mantra-aradhana as a devotional discipline that matures from experiencing its fruits to culminating in moksha, emphasizing steady practice rather than merely receiving initiation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application of dharma—specifically the distinction between nitya (daily) and naimittika (occasional) karmas and the necessity of dīkṣā and proper observance (ācāra) after authorization.