Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

अज्ञानं नाशयेद्योगी योगेन मुनिसत्तम । अष्टांगैः सिद्ध्यते योगस्तानि वक्ष्यामि तत्त्वतः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

ajñānaṃ nāśayedyogī yogena munisattama | aṣṭāṃgaiḥ siddhyate yogastāni vakṣyāmi tattvataḥ || 72 ||

Translation

ഹേ മുനിശ്രേഷ്ഠാ, യോഗി യോഗത്തിലൂടെ അജ്ഞാനം നശിപ്പിക്കണം. യോഗം അഷ്ടാംഗങ്ങളാൽ സിദ്ധമാകുന്നു; അവയെ ഞാൻ തത്ത്വപ്രകാരം പറയും.

Word by Word

• ajñānam: ignorance
• ajñānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nāśayet: should destroy
• nāśayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: naś (धातु)
• Form: Causal Potential (Nich-Vidhilin), 3rd Person, Singular

• yogī: the Yogi
• yogī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yogena: through Yoga
• yogena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• munisattama: O best of sages
• munisattama: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: munisattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन), Singular

• aṣṭāṅgaiḥ: by the eight limbs (of Yoga)
• aṣṭāṅgaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭāṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• siddhyate: is perfected/accomplished
• siddhyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sidh (धातु)
• Form: Passive Present (Karmani Lat), 3rd Person, Singular

• yogaḥ: Yoga
• yogaḥ: Karma (Object - Passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tāni: them (the limbs)
• tāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• vakṣyāmi: I will speak/describe
• vakṣyāmi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Future Tense (Lrit/लृट्), 1st Person (Uttama/उत्तम), Singular

• tattvataḥ: in truth/essence
• tattvataḥ: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial (Tasil suffix)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It defines Yoga as a direct antidote to ajñāna (spiritual ignorance) and signals that liberation-oriented practice becomes effective when grounded in the complete eight-limbed discipline.

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

While the verse is explicitly yogic, it supports Bhakti by emphasizing inner purification—destroying ignorance is essential for steady devotion, and the disciplined limbs of yoga stabilize the mind so devotion can become unwavering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is methodological—spiritual knowledge must be supported by structured sādhanā (the eight limbs) to become transformative.