Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4
Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative
यथा समस्त लोकानां जीवनं सलिलं स्मृतम् । तथा समस्तसिद्धीनां जीवनं भक्तिरिष्यते ॥ ४ ॥
yathā samasta lokānāṃ jīvanaṃ salilaṃ smṛtam | tathā samastasiddhīnāṃ jīvanaṃ bhaktiriṣyate || 4 ||
ಯಥಾ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಲೋಕಗಳ ಜೀವವು ಜಲವೆಂದು ಸ್ಮೃತ, ತಥಾ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಸಿದ್ಧಿಗಳ ಜೀವವು ಭಕ್ತಿಯೆಂದು ಹೇಳಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತದೆ.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It declares bhakti to be the sustaining essence behind every true spiritual attainment—just as water sustains life—implying that siddhis without devotion are incomplete or spiritually hollow.
By using a universal metaphor (water and life), it teaches that devotion is not optional or secondary; it is the vital principle that gives power, purity, and right direction to all achievements on the spiritual path.
No specific Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyotiṣa, Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is prioritizing devotional practice as the foundation for any disciplined sādhanā.