Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

लोकबुद्धिप्रकाशेन लोकमार्गो न रिष्यति । अनादिनिधनं जंतुमात्मनि स्थितमव्ययम् ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

lokabuddhiprakāśena lokamārgo na riṣyati | anādinidhanaṃ jaṃtumātmani sthitamavyayam || 88 ||

Translation

ലോകത്തിൽ സമ്യക് ബുദ്ധിയുടെ പ്രകാശം കൊണ്ടു ജീവിതമാർഗം നശിക്കുകയില്ല. ജീവിയെ അനാദി-അനന്തം, അവ്യയം, ആത്മയിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുന്ന സത്യമായി തിരിച്ചറിയണം.

Word by Word

• लोकबुद्धिप्रकाशेन: by the illumination of worldly understanding
• लोकबुद्धिप्रकाशेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला (लोकस्य बुद्धिः; तस्याः प्रकाशः; तेन); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन

• लोकमार्गः: the path of the world
• लोकमार्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य मार्गः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• रिष्यति: is harmed/perishes
• रिष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अनादिनिधनम्: beginningless and endless
• अनादिनिधनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि (अ- + आदि) + निधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (आदि च निधनं च) + नञ्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘without beginning and end’

• जन्तुम्: the living being
• जन्तुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• आत्मनि: in the Self
• आत्मनि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन

• स्थितम्: situated/abiding
• स्थितम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; agrees with जन्तुम् (sense: ‘situated’)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; agrees with जन्तुम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Jiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that clear, illumined understanding preserves one’s rightful path, and that the core being (jīva/inner reality) is not merely perishable matter but an imperishable, beginningless-endless principle grounded in the Self (Ātman).

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

Bhakti becomes steady when guided by right understanding: knowing the imperishable Self prevents spiritual life from being derailed by fear, loss, or worldly confusion, thereby supporting devoted practice with clarity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught directly; the practical takeaway is discernment (viveka) as a guiding discipline—using clear understanding to keep one’s dharmic conduct and spiritual pursuit from being spoiled.