Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Uttaraloka

Northern Higher World), Dharma–Adharma Viveka, and Adhyatma-Prashna (Prelude

Devanagari script

सृष्टिप्रलयसंयुक्तमाचार्यैः परिदर्शितम् । यज्ज्ञात्वा पुरुषो लोके प्रीतिं सौख्यं च विंदति ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

sṛṣṭipralayasaṃyuktamācāryaiḥ paridarśitam | yajjñātvā puruṣo loke prītiṃ saukhyaṃ ca viṃdati || 23 ||

Translation

സൃഷ്ടിയും പ്രളയവും ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട ഈ ഉപദേശം ആചാര്യന്മാർ വ്യക്തമായി ഉപദേശിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്; ഇത് അറിഞ്ഞാൽ മനുഷ്യൻ ഈ ലോകത്തിൽ പ്രീതിയും സുഖവും പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• सृष्टि-प्रलय-संयुक्तम्: connected with creation and dissolution
• सृष्टि-प्रलय-संयुक्तम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + सम्, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle) used adjectivally; समासः: सृष्ट्या च प्रलयेन च संयुक्तम् (determinative)

• आचार्यैः: by the teachers
• आचार्यैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• परिदर्शितम्: shown, demonstrated
• परिदर्शितम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिदर्शित (कृदन्त; परि + √दृश् (धातु), क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle)

• यत्: which (that)
• यत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययभावे क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having known)

• पुरुषः: a person
• पुरुषः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रीतिम्: joy, delight
• प्रीतिम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सौख्यम्: happiness, comfort
• सौख्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विन्दति: finds, attains
• विन्दति: क्रिया (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु; विन्दति-रूप, लभ्-अर्थे)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching to Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)

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 teaches that understanding the cosmic cycle of creation and dissolution, as explained by authoritative teachers, produces inner contentment and well-being—supporting a Moksha-oriented worldview.

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

By recognizing creation and dissolution as ordered cosmic processes, the seeker’s anxiety reduces and trust deepens; this steadiness naturally supports devotion as a calm, receptive mind turns toward the Lord with prīti (loving joy).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse does not teach a specific Vedanga technique; instead it emphasizes ācārya-upadeśa (learning from qualified teachers), which is a practical discipline that underlies all Vedic study, including Vedanga learning.