Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

तस्यात्मनि स्वयं वेदान्बुद्ध्वा समनुचिंतय । देवयानचरो विष्णोः पितृयानश्च तामसः ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

tasyātmani svayaṃ vedānbuddhvā samanuciṃtaya | devayānacaro viṣṇoḥ pitṛyānaśca tāmasaḥ || 11 ||

Translation

ନିଜ ଆତ୍ମାରେ ହିଁ ବେଦକୁ ବୁଝି ଏବଂ ସମ୍ୟକ୍ ଚିନ୍ତନ କଲେ ମଣିଷ ବିଷ୍ଣୁଙ୍କୁ ନେଇଯାଉଥିବା ଦେବୟାନ ପଥ ଅନୁସରେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ପିତୃୟାନ ତାମସ ପ୍ରବୃତ୍ତିର।

Word by Word

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ātmani: in the self
• ātmani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• svayam: oneself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• vedān: the Vedas
• vedān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• buddhvā: having understood
• buddhvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (बुध् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable; ‘having understood/realized’

• samanucintaya: reflect/consider well
• samanucintaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-anu-cint (चिन्त् धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• devayāna-caraḥ: follower of the path of the gods
• devayāna-caraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: devayāna (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (चर, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘one who follows the devayāna’

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• pitṛyānaḥ: the path of the ancestors
• pitṛyānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• tāmasaḥ: tamasic/dark
• tāmasaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying pitṛyānaḥ

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vedas
• Devayana
• Pitriyana

FAQs

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

It states that liberation-oriented progress comes from realizing Vedic truth inwardly (in the Self) and sustained contemplation; this aligns one with Devayāna, the higher course culminating in Viṣṇu.

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

By naming Viṣṇu as the culmination of Devayāna, the verse frames the higher path as God-oriented—steady reflection and inner realization naturally mature into Viṣṇu-centered devotion and attainment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on Vedic contemplation (manana/nididhyāsana) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it points to disciplined study and reflective assimilation of Vedic teaching as the method.