Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

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

Devanagari script

दशधा करणैश्चेष्टां कार्यमाविश्य कार्यते । चेष्टंते कार्यमालंब्य विभुत्वात्करणानि तु ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

daśadhā karaṇaiśceṣṭāṃ kāryamāviśya kāryate | ceṣṭaṃte kāryamālaṃbya vibhutvātkaraṇāni tu || 78 ||

Translation

L’action s’accomplit lorsque les dix instruments pénètrent dans l’œuvre à faire. Selon la tâche prise en appui, les instruments opèrent, car ils sont diffus et capables d’agir dans tout le corps.

Word by Word

• दशधा: tenfold
• दशधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दशधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner/number)

• करणैः: by the instruments (organs)
• करणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• चेष्टाम्: activity/effort
• चेष्टाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कार्यं: the effect/thing to be done
• कार्यं: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आविश्य: having entered
• आविश्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + √विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; 'having entered/pervaded'

• कार्यते: is performed/is done
• कार्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): 'is done'

• चेष्टन्ते: they act/endeavour
• चेष्टन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कार्यं: the effect/task
• कार्यं: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आलम्ब्य: depending on/taking support of
• आलम्ब्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + √लम्ब् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; 'having taken support of/depending on'

• विभुत्वात्: because of pervasiveness/power
• विभुत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभुत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• करणानि: the instruments (organs)
• करणानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थक

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/technical section)

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 clarifies that worldly action (karma) occurs through the coordinated functioning of the bodily instruments; recognizing this helps a seeker detach from egoic doership and understand action as a process supported by instruments and conditions.

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

By showing that actions depend on instruments, it encourages offering one’s faculties (speech, hands, mind-directed effort) in service—turning ordinary activity into devotional dedication rather than personal ownership.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical analysis of karaṇa (instruments/indriyas) and kriyā (action), useful for disciplined ritual performance and self-observation—knowing which faculties engage in a given act and how they coordinate.