Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

अज्ञानाजुच मत्तत्त्वाद्वैकल्यात्साधनस्य च । यद्यपूर्णं भवेत्कल्पं कतथाप्यभिमुखो भव ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

ajñānājuca mattattvādvaikalyātsādhanasya ca | yadyapūrṇaṃ bhavetkalpaṃ katathāpyabhimukho bhava || 41 ||

Translation

അജ്ഞാനത്താൽ, തത്ത്വത്തെ തെറ്റായി ഗ്രഹിച്ചതാൽ, സാധനത്തിലെ കുറവാൽ—ഏതെങ്കിലും വിധി/കൽപം അപൂർണ്ണമായാൽ പോലും, എങ്ങനെയായാലും ഭഗവാനിലേക്കു അഭിമുഖനാകുക.

Word by Word

• अज्ञानात्: from ignorance
• अज्ञानात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (ablative singular neuter)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मत्-तत्त्वात्: from (my) true principle/understanding (i.e., from error about my reality)
• मत्-तत्त्वात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-सम्बन्ध) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (ablative singular neuter)

• वैकल्यात्: from deficiency
• वैकल्यात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (ablative singular neuter)

• साधनस्य: of the means/practice
• साधनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (genitive singular neuter)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• अपूर्णम्: incomplete
• अपूर्णम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—(nominative singular neuter)

• भवेत्: may be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद—(may be/should become)

• कल्पम्: the rite/procedure (kalpa)
• कल्पम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा—(nominative singular masculine; subject)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/प्रकार-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: how)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: even/also)

• अभिमुखः: facing/favorably disposed
• अभिमुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—(nominative singular masculine)

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद—(become/be)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It teaches that even when a prescribed rite (kalpa) is flawed due to ignorance or inadequate means, the decisive factor is turning one’s consciousness toward the Divine; inner orientation safeguards the spiritual aim.

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

It prioritizes heartfelt turning toward the Lord over technical perfection, implying that devotion can redeem shortcomings in external performance and keep the seeker aligned with the goal.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects the Vedāṅga of Kalpa (ritual procedure): rituals can become apūrṇa (incomplete) due to procedural or capability defects, and the text advises a practical corrective—maintain sincere, God-facing intent.