Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

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

Devanagari script

दीक्षया गुरुमूर्तिस्थः सर्वानुग्राहकः शिवः । दृष्टाद्यर्थतया यस्य गुरुभक्तिस्तु कृत्रिमा ॥ १२१ ॥

Transliteration

dīkṣayā gurumūrtisthaḥ sarvānugrāhakaḥ śivaḥ | dṛṣṭādyarthatayā yasya gurubhaktistu kṛtrimā || 121 ||

Translation

Par la dīkṣā, Śiva—dispensateur de grâce à tous—demeure dans la forme même du Guru. Mais chez celui dont la dévotion au Guru vise des gains visibles et d’autres profits mondains, cette guru-bhakti n’est qu’artifice.

Word by Word

• दीक्षया: by initiation (dīkṣā)
• दीक्षया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुरु-मूर्ति-स्थः: situated in the Guru’s form
• गुरु-मूर्ति-स्थः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कृदन्त-विशेषण: स्थ = स्थित (past-participial sense), ‘स्थितः’

• सर्व-अनुग्राहकः: benefactor of all; one who bestows grace on all
• सर्व-अनुग्राहकः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुग्राहक (प्रातिपदिक; √ग्रह् धातु, णिच्/अनुग्रह-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्ट-आदि-अर्थ-तया: by (taking it) as having the meaning of ‘seen’ etc. (i.e., as mere outward/visible sense)
• दृष्ट-आदि-अर्थ-तया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्ट (कृदन्त; √दृश् धातु, क्त) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + तया (तद्-प्रत्यय; भाववाचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); भाववाचक-तद्धित: -तया = ‘as/with the sense of’

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुरु-भक्तिः: devotion to the guru
• गुरु-भक्तिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (contrast/emphasis)

• कृत्रिमा: artificial; contrived
• कृत्रिमा: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्रिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) of ‘भक्तिः’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that dīkṣā is not merely a formal rite: the divine (Śiva) is to be recognized as present in the Guru, and spiritual progress depends on sincere reverence rather than transactional motives.

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

It distinguishes genuine bhakti—rooted in surrender and inner transformation—from “kṛtrimā” devotion driven by dṛṣṭa-phala (visible, worldly rewards). True bhakti aims at purification and liberation, not profit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes the ritual-technical principle behind dīkṣā: mantra and initiation bear fruit according to adhikāra (fitness) and bhāva (intent). The verse warns that seeking only immediate results undermines the sanctity of the guru–mantra discipline.