Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

तन्त्रस्यांस्य क्रमप्राप्तं कथनीयं च यत्त्वया । तत्प्रब्रूहि महाभाग किं पृष्ट्वान्यद्विदांवर ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tantrasyāṃsya kramaprāptaṃ kathanīyaṃ ca yattvayā | tatprabrūhi mahābhāga kiṃ pṛṣṭvānyadvidāṃvara || 4 ||

Translation

Ô illustre, explique ce que tu dois enseigner, selon l’ordre prescrit, au sujet de ce Tantra. Dis-le, ô grande âme : que pourrais-je encore te demander, ô le meilleur des sages ?

Word by Word

• तन्त्रस्य: of the tantra/treatise
• तन्त्रस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अंशस्य: of the portion/section
• अंशस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• क्रमप्राप्तम्: coming in due sequence
• क्रमप्राप्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘क्रमेण प्राप्तम्’ (obtained/arrived in due order), ‘कथनीयं’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कथनीयम्: to be narrated
• कथनीयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; implied ‘it’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथनीय (कथ् धातोः तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तव्यत् (gerundive) ‘to be told’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• यत्: which/that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object; correlative to तत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘that’ (correlative)

• प्रब्रूहि: tell, please speak
• प्रब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग ‘प्र’

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘महान् भागः यस्य सः’ (very fortunate)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• पृष्ट्वा: having asked
• पृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having asked’

• अन्यत्: something else
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘something else’

• विदाम्: of the wise/knowers
• विदाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘knower’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of knowers’

• वर: O best
• वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठ’ अर्थे

Speaker

A disciple/inquirer addressing a senior sage (dialogue setting consistent with Narada Purana’s teacher–student exchanges, often involving Narada and the Sanatkumara tradition)

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 emphasizes disciplined transmission of sacred knowledge: teachings should be given in proper sequence (krama) by a qualified authority, and sincere inquiry is fulfilled by attentive reception of that ordered instruction.

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

Indirectly, it models the bhakti attitude of humility and trust toward the teacher: the seeker considers the teacher’s ordered exposition sufficient, reflecting surrender and receptivity that also support Vishnu-bhakti practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the method of shastric pedagogy—krama (systematic order) and adhikara (fitness of the teacher to teach). This is foundational for studying Vedanga subjects like Vyakarana and Kalpa, where stepwise procedure is essential.