Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

प्रकाशरूपं विद्याख्यं तत्त्वं सूते कलैव हि । विद्या त्वावरणं भित्वा ज्ञानशक्तेः स्वकर्मणा ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

prakāśarūpaṃ vidyākhyaṃ tattvaṃ sūte kalaiva hi | vidyā tvāvaraṇaṃ bhitvā jñānaśakteḥ svakarmaṇā || 52 ||

Translation

En vérité, le principe nommé Vidyā—dont la nature même est lumière—fait naître la kalā (puissance de manifestation). Mais Vidyā, par sa propre fonction, brise le voile qui recouvre la śakti de connaissance.

Word by Word

• प्रकाश-रूपम्: having the form of light; luminous
• प्रकाश-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तत्त्वम् इति)

• विद्या-आख्यम्: called 'Vidyā'
• विद्या-आख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तत्त्वम् इति)

• तत्त्वम्: principle; reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सूते: brings forth; produces
• सूते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कला: the power/portion (kalā)
• कला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: only; indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (restrictive particle)

• हि: for; indeed
• हि: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुबोधक/निपात (particle indicating reason/emphasis)

• विद्या: Vidyā (knowledge-power)
• विद्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (adversative particle)

• आवरणम्: covering; veil
• आवरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भित्वा: having broken through
• भित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), 'having broken/pierced'

• ज्ञान-शक्तेः: of the power of knowledge
• ज्ञान-शक्तेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्व-कर्मणा: by its own function/action
• स्व-कर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन; करणवाचक

Speaker

Suta

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 defines true Vidyā as luminous and liberating: its intrinsic function is to pierce the veil (āvaraṇa) that obscures jñāna-śakti, enabling direct clarity and realization rather than mere information.

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

While the verse is framed in jñāna-language, it supports bhakti by implying that authentic spiritual practice must remove inner obscuration; bhakti becomes effective when it is joined to clarifying vidyā that reveals the Lord’s truth without mental covering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the Vedāṅga-style principle of removing obscuration through correct knowledge and method (sva-karmanā): technical disciplines (like śikṣā and vyākaraṇa) serve as tools that refine understanding so the ‘power of knowledge’ can operate unobstructed.