Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation

Devanagari script

तपसा गुरुवृत्त्या च ब्रह्मचर्येण चान्वितः । देवतानां पितॄणां च ह्यतृष्णश्चानसूयकः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

tapasā guruvṛttyā ca brahmacaryeṇa cānvitaḥ | devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca hyatṛṣṇaścānasūyakaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

苦行（タパス）と師にふさわしい行い、そして梵行（ブラフマチャリヤ）の規律を備え、彼は神々や祖霊への渇望を離れ、嫉みや非難の心なく在る。

Word by Word

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• गुरुवृत्त्या: by service/conduct toward the teacher
• गुरुवृत्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु-वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुरोः वृत्तिः) समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• ब्रह्मचर्येण: by celibate studentship
• ब्रह्मचर्येण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अन्वितः: endowed (with)
• अन्वितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वि-इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (endowed/possessed of)

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• अतृष्णः: free from craving
• अतृष्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-तृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेधार्थ; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अनसूयकः: non-envious, not fault-finding
• अनसूयकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनसूयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on moksha-dharma qualities)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitrs
• Guru

FAQs

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

It defines the inner marks of a moksha-oriented seeker: tapas, guru-aligned conduct, and brahmacarya, coupled with detachment from reward-seeking even in deva- or pitṛ-related merit, and a mind free of envy.

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

By rejecting craving for deva/pitṛ results, the verse points to devotion that is not transactional; bhakti becomes single-pointed and pure when discipline and humility replace desire for heavenly or ancestral fruits.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Not a technical Vedanga lesson, but a practical dharmic discipline: guru-seva (proper student conduct), brahmacarya (regulated life), and tapas—foundational supports for study and practice of Shastra.