Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Sanatkumāra’s Bhāgavata Tantra: Tattvas, Māyā-Bonds, Embodiment, and the Necessity of Dīkṣā

Devanagari script

तच्छक्तितत्त्वं विप्रेंद्र प्रोक्तं सावयवं परम् । ततो ज्ञानक्रियाशक्त्योस्तथोत्कर्षापकर्षयोः ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

tacchaktitattvaṃ vipreṃdra proktaṃ sāvayavaṃ param | tato jñānakriyāśaktyostathotkarṣāpakarṣayoḥ || 31 ||

Translation

हे विप्रश्रेष्ठ! अवयवांसहित ते परम शक्तितत्त्व सांगितले आहे. आता ज्ञानशक्ती व क्रियाशक्ती तसेच त्यांच्या उत्कर्ष-अपकर्षाचा (क्रमभेदाचा) विचार केला जाईल.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• śakti-tattvam: the principle of Śakti
• śakti-tattvam: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'of śakti' + 'tattva'

• vipra-indra: O best of brāhmaṇas
• vipra-indra: Sambodhana (संबोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (संबोधन), Singular (एकवचन); संबोधन-तत्पुरुष: 'chief among brāhmaṇas'

• proktam: has been declared
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'śakti-tattvam'

• sa-avayavam: having parts (with constituents)
• sa-avayavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa- (उपसर्ग/सह) + avayava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'with parts/with constituents'

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); superlative sense 'supreme'

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'thereafter/from that'

• jñāna-kriyā-śaktyoḥ: of the powers of knowledge and action
• jñāna-kriyā-śaktyoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); द्वन्द्व compound 'jñāna-śakti and kriyā-śakti' with dual ending

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय); connective/adverb 'likewise/and also'

• utkarṣa-apakarṣayoḥ: of elevation and diminution
• utkarṣa-apakarṣayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utkarṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + apakarṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); द्वन्द्व: 'increase/excellence' and 'decrease/decline'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching to Narada; ‘viprendra’ as respectful address)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It marks a transition: after defining Śakti-tattva as a supreme principle with distinct aspects, the text turns to how knowledge-power and action-power function in graded ways—key for understanding spiritual progress and limitation.

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

Though not explicitly naming bhakti, it frames practice as a harmonizing of inner knowing (jñāna-śakti) and outward disciplined action (kriyā-śakti); bhakti in Purāṇic teaching typically matures when both are refined and rightly oriented toward the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, śāstra-style classification: distinguishing faculties (knowledge vs action) and their degrees (utkarṣa/apakarṣa). This analytical approach aligns with Vedāṅga-influenced pedagogy used to systematize learning and practice.