Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

तीर्थस्नानैर्विशुद्धा ये व्रतदानतपोमखैः । यजन्ति कर्मयोगेन सर्वधातारमच्युतम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

tīrthasnānairviśuddhā ye vratadānatapomakhaiḥ | yajanti karmayogena sarvadhātāramacyutam || 3 ||

Translation

തീർത്ഥസ്നാനങ്ങളാൽ ശുദ്ധരായി, വ്രതം, ദാനം, തപസ്, യാഗകർമ്മങ്ങൾ എന്നിവകൊണ്ട് പാവനരായവർ കർമയോഗാനുഷ്ഠാനത്തോടെ സർവ്വധാരകനായ അച്യുതനെ ആരാധിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• तीर्थस्नानैः: by/with holy-bathings (baths at pilgrim places)
• तीर्थस्नानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ-स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थे स्नानम्)

• विशुद्धाः: purified
• विशुद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √शुध् (धातु) + वि- उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past passive participle)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• व्रतदानतपोमखैः: by vows, gifts, austerities, and sacrifices
• व्रतदानतपोमखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत-दान-तपस्-मख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (व्रतं च दानं च तपश्च मखाश्च)

• यजन्ति: they worship/sacrifice
• यजन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• कर्मयोगेन: by the discipline of action (karma-yoga)
• कर्मयोगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म-योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कर्मणः योगः)

• सर्वधातारम्: the sustainer of all
• सर्वधातारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वः धाता)

• अच्युतम्: Achyuta (the infallible Lord)
• अच्युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √च्युत्/√च्यु (धातु) + अ- नञ्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त नाम (epithet)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Acyuta

FAQs

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

It links external disciplines—tīrtha-bathing, vows, charity, austerity, and sacrifice—to inner purification, culminating in worship of Vishnu (Acyuta) through Karma-yoga, where actions become offerings rather than ego-driven deeds.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as worship (yajanti) directed to Acyuta; the verse frames devotional worship as compatible with ritual and ethical life when performed as Karma-yoga—actions dedicated to the Lord, the sustainer of all.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes practical ritual discipline (yajña/makha and vrata observance), implying correct application of Kalpa (ritual procedure) as part of consecrated action leading toward purification and God-centered worship.