Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya

Devanagari script

गुरुध्यानस्तुतिकथासेवनासक्तमानसः । एवंविधो भवेच्छिष्यस्त्वन्यथा गुरुदुःखदः ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

gurudhyānastutikathāsevanāsaktamānasaḥ | evaṃvidho bhavecchiṣyastvanyathā guruduḥkhadaḥ || 70 ||

Translation

ഗുരുവിനെ ധ്യാനിക്കുക, സ്തുതിക്കുക, ഗുരുകഥകൾ ശ്രവിക്കുക, സേവിക്കുക—ഇവയിൽ മനസ്സ് ആസക്തനായവനാണ് ശിഷ്യൻ. അത്തരവനേ യുക്തൻ; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഗുരുവിന് ദുഃഖകാരണമാകും।

Word by Word

• गुरु-ध्यान-स्तुति-कथा-सेवन-आसक्त-मानसः: whose mind is attached to meditating on, praising, speaking of, and serving the guru
• गुरु-ध्यान-स्तुति-कथा-सेवन-आसक्त-मानसः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक) + आसक्त (कृदन्त; आ-√सञ्ज् धातु, क्त) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (गुरोः ध्यान-स्तुति-कथा-सेवने आसक्तं मानसं यस्य)

• एवं-विधः: of this kind
• एवं-विधः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवं (अव्यय) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (एवं प्रकारः)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शिष्यः: disciple
• शिष्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• गुरु-दुःख-दः: one who causes sorrow to the guru
• गुरु-दुःख-दः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √दा धातु, क्विप्/ण्वुल्-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गुरवे दुःखं ददाति)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction on disciple-conduct within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Shishya

FAQs

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

It defines the inner marks of a true disciple: sustained mental devotion expressed through meditation, praise, listening, and service to the Guru; without these, learning becomes spiritually fruitless and burdens the teacher.

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

It frames bhakti as practiced through the Guru—constant remembrance (dhyāna), glorification (stuti), attentive hearing (kathā-śravaṇa), and humble service (sevana), making devotion practical and relational.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the prerequisite discipline for transmitting Vedanga knowledge: śiṣya-saṃskāra (student formation) through guru-sevā and attentive śravaṇa, without which technical learning (e.g., vyākaraṇa or śikṣā) does not mature into right conduct.