Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

संप्रदायस्वरूपा च कुलकौलनिगर्भगा । रहस्यापरापरप्राकृत्तथैवातिरहस्यका ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

saṃpradāyasvarūpā ca kulakaulanigarbhagā | rahasyāparāparaprākṛttathaivātirahasyakā || 63 ||

Translation

Ia berwujud hakikat sampradāya (garis inisiasi) dan terpendam dalam tradisi Kula serta Kaula. Ia diajarkan sebagai ‘rahasia’, ‘yang lebih tinggi dan lebih tinggi lagi’, ‘dalam wujud alaminya (prākṛta)’, serta ‘sangat rahasia’.

Word by Word

• saṃpradāya-svarūpā: having the nature/form of a tradition
• saṃpradāya-svarūpā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃpradāya (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: संप्रदायस्य स्वरूपा)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kulakaula-nigarbhagā: moving/abiding within the womb/inner core of the kula-kaula (tradition)
• kulakaula-nigarbhagā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kulakaula (प्रातिपदिक) + nigarbha-ga (गम् धातु, कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुषः: कुलकौल-निगर्भा); 'ग' = गम्-धातुज कृदन्त (ग/गामिनी-अर्थे), स्त्रीप्रत्यय-आ

• rahasyā-parā-aparā-prākṛt: secret, supreme and non-supreme, and also natural/prakritic
• rahasyā-parā-aparā-prākṛt: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rahasya (प्रातिपदिक) + parā (प्रातिपदिक) + aparā (प्रातिपदिक) + prākṛt (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (रहस्यरूपा परा च अपरा च प्राकृता च)

• tathā: thus/so
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis)

• ati-rahasyakā: most secret/very mysterious
• ati-rahasyakā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + rahasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (अतिशयेन रहस्या)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames certain teachings as lineage-bound (sampradāya) and intentionally graded in confidentiality—from ‘secret’ up to ‘supremely secret’—indicating that realization is transmitted through authorized initiation and progressive instruction.

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined transmission and inner qualification. In the Narada Purana’s broader pedagogy, devotion matures through guided practice and deeper, more interior teachings rather than mere public instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to structured pedagogy and technical categorization of teachings (a hallmark of śāstric method), though it is not a direct lesson in a single Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa; it instead signals how specialized knowledge is tiered and preserved within traditions.