Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90

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

Devanagari script

तत्त्वान्येवं कलाद्यानि प्रतिपुंनियतानि हि । देहेषु कर्मवशतः सर्वेषु विचरंति हि ॥ ९० ॥

Transliteration

tattvānyevaṃ kalādyāni pratipuṃniyatāni hi | deheṣu karmavaśataḥ sarveṣu vicaraṃti hi || 90 ||

Translation

Ainsi, les divers principes (tattvas), à commencer par les kalās (puissances constitutives), sont réellement attribués à chaque individu ; et, poussés par la force du karma, ils circulent à travers toutes les formes incarnées.

Word by Word

• तत्त्वानि: principles/elements
• तत्त्वानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb)

• कला-आद्यानि: kalās and the rest
• कला-आद्यानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः (कलादीनि = arts/parts etc.)

• प्रति-पुम्-नियतानि: assigned to each person
• प्रति-पुम्-नियतानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + पुम् (प्रातिपदिक) + नियत (कृदन्त; नि-√यम् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (तत्त्वानि/कलाद्यानि); समासः (प्रतिपुंसि नियतानि = fixed per person)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avyaya (अव्यय/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for indeed)

• देहेषु: in bodies
• देहेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• कर्म-वशतः: due to the force/control of karma
• कर्म-वशतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = 'due to/under the control of'; समासः (कर्मवशात् इति अर्थः)

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; विशेषण (देहेषु)

• विचरन्ति: move about / operate
• विचरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avyaya (अव्यय/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) निश्चयार्थ (emphasis)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a doctrinal exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames embodiment as a karmic process: the soul’s experience in different bodies is accompanied by allotted tattvas and kalās that function according to past actions, underscoring the need for liberation-oriented knowledge and practice.

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

By showing that karmic forces propel the embodied condition, it implicitly points to Bhakti to Vishnu as a means to transcend karma’s compulsion—devotion purifies action and redirects the mind toward moksha rather than repeated embodiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse supports the technical worldview behind Vedanga-informed practice: understanding karma’s operation and the constituents of embodiment helps contextualize disciplined ritual (Kalpa) and correct conduct as tools for purification and higher knowledge.