Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

अश्वमेघसहस्त्रं वा कर्म्म वेदोदितं कृतम् । तत्सर्वं निष्फलं ब्रह्मन्यदि भक्तिविवर्जितम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

aśvameghasahastraṃ vā karmma vedoditaṃ kṛtam | tatsarvaṃ niṣphalaṃ brahmanyadi bhaktivivarjitam || 11 ||

Translation

ഹേ ബ്രഹ്മൻ! സഹസ്ര അശ്വമേധയാഗങ്ങളോ വേദോക്ത കര്‍മ്മങ്ങളോ ചെയ്താലും, ഭക്തിയില്ലെങ്കിൽ അവയൊക്കെയും നിഷ്ഫലമത്രേ.

Word by Word

• aśvameghasahasram: a thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices
• aśvameghasahasram: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvameghasahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. Genitive Tatpurusha (thousand of Ashvamedhas).

• vā: or
• vā: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle.

• karma: ritual action / deed
• karma: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular.

• vedoditam: prescribed by the Vedas
• vedoditam: Visheshana (Adjective to karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vedodita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. 'Veda-uditam' (spoken/prescribed in Vedas).

• kṛtam: performed / done
• kṛtam: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. Past Passive Participle.

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular.

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular.

• niṣphalam: fruitless / useless
• niṣphalam: Vidheya (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. 'Nir-gatam phalam yasmāt' (fruitless).

• brahman: O Brahmin
• brahman: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular. Addressing Narada.

• yadi: if
• yadi: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle.

• bhaktivivarjitam: devoid of devotion
• bhaktivivarjitam: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaktivivarjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. Instrumental Tatpurusha (bhaktyā vivarjitam).

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It declares that ritual magnitude (even a thousand Aśvamedhas) does not yield true spiritual fruit unless it is infused with bhakti; devotion is presented as the essential life of dharma and the bridge to moksha.

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

Bhakti is shown as the decisive factor that makes Vedic action meaningful—without heartfelt devotion, rites remain external and fail to transform the soul or grant the highest result.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to the principle behind Vedic ritual science (Kalpa/Vedic rites): correct performance alone is not sufficient; intention and devotional orientation determine the spiritual efficacy of karma.