Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

साक्षान्निमित्तमीशोऽत्रेत्युपादानसबिंदुराट् । पंचानां कालराहित्याक्रमो नास्तीति निश्चितम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

sākṣānnimittamīśo'tretyupādānasabiṃdurāṭ | paṃcānāṃ kālarāhityākramo nāstīti niścitam || 36 ||

Translation

ここにおいて主は直接の能因であり、また万有の主たる根源として質料因でもある。五つの原理は時を超えているゆえ、そこに前後の次第は存在しないと確定される。

Word by Word

• साक्षात्: directly, manifestly
• साक्षात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• निमित्तम्: instrumental cause, occasion
• निमित्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• ईशः: the Lord
• ईशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• अत्र: here, in this context
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• उपादान-स-बिन्दु-राट्: the sovereign ‘Bindu’ as material cause
• उपादान-स-बिन्दु-राट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपादान (प्रातिपदिक) + स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश-समुच्चय) + बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (निर्धारण/विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः): उपादानं च सः बिन्दुराट् (उपादानरूपः बिन्दुराट्)

• पञ्चानाम्: of the five
• पञ्चानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सङ्ख्याशब्द) पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोग; षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• काल-राहित्य-आक्रमः: sequence due to absence of time (timeless order)
• काल-राहित्य-आक्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + राहित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध): कालस्य राहित्यं (कालराहित्यं) तेन/तद्विशिष्टः आक्रमः

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative)

• निश्चितम्: ascertained, determined
• निश्चितम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + √चि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) / निश्चित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicate adjective)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedantic-technical discussion)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara (the Lord)

FAQs

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

It establishes a key Vedantic conclusion: the Lord is not merely a remote creator but the very basis of manifestation—both the efficient and material cause—guiding the seeker toward non-dual dependence on Ishvara for liberation.

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

By identifying Ishvara as the direct cause and inner substance of all, the verse supports single-pointed devotion: worship is not toward a separate deity but toward the all-pervading Lord who is the source and support of everything.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse uses precise causal terminology (nimitta/upādāna) typical of śāstric analysis; it trains the reader in disciplined philosophical reasoning used across Vedanta and related technical traditions.