Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

सञ्चिदानंदरूपोऽहमात्मानमिति भावयेत् । ततः समाचरेद्देहकृत्यं देवार्चनं तथा ॥ ९६ ॥

Transliteration

sañcidānaṃdarūpo'hamātmānamiti bhāvayet | tataḥ samācareddehakṛtyaṃ devārcanaṃ tathā || 96 ||

Translation

“ഞാൻ സച്ചിദാനന്ദസ്വരൂപമായ ആത്മാവാണ്”—എന്ന് നിത്യം ഭാവിക്കണം. തുടർന്ന് വിധിപൂർവ്വം ദേഹകർമ്മങ്ങളും ദേവാരാധനയും ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• सत्: being; existence
• सत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); समासाङ्ग (compound-member)

• चित्: consciousness
• चित्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom/Acc, Singular); समासाङ्ग

• आनन्द: bliss
• आनन्द: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom/Acc, Singular); समासाङ्ग

• रूपः: (one) whose form is existence-consciousness-bliss
• रूपः: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate nominative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीहि-सदृश प्रयोगः: सत्-चित्-आनन्द-रूपः (one whose form is sat-cit-ānanda)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Pronoun, 1st person, Nominative, Singular)

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• भावयेत्: should contemplate/meditate
• भावयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/विधिलिङ्-सदृश निर्देश), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Imperative/optative sense: should/let him contemplate), causative sense in usage: ‘to cause to be in mind/meditate’

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/क्रमवाचक (adverb: thereafter)

• समाचरेत्: should perform/practise
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आचर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Optative, 3rd sg) उपसर्ग: सम्- (sam-)

• देहकृत्यम्: bodily duties
• देहकृत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देहस्य कृत्यम्

• देवार्चनम्: worship of the gods
• देवार्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देवानाम् अर्चनम्

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: likewise/also)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches a balanced sādhanā: establish the inner vision of the Self as sat-cit-ānanda, and then carry that clarity into disciplined daily duties and formal deity-worship.

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

Bhakti is not rejected after knowledge; rather, devārcana (deity worship) is to be performed after grounding oneself in right understanding, making worship steadier and less ego-driven.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes nitya-karma and upāsanā procedure—performing deha-kṛtya (daily bodily disciplines and purity-related acts) followed by devārcana—reflecting applied dharma and ritual order rather than a specific Vedāṅga technicality.