Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Sṛṣṭi-varṇana, Bhārata-khaṇḍa-mahātmya, and Jagad-bhūgola

Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography

Devanagari script

निष्कामो वा सकामो वा कुर्यात्कर्म यथाविधि । स्वाश्रमाचारशून्यश्च पतितः प्रोच्यते बुधैः ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

niṣkāmo vā sakāmo vā kuryātkarma yathāvidhi | svāśramācāraśūnyaśca patitaḥ procyate budhaiḥ || 77 ||

Translation

ନିଷ୍କାମ ହେଉ କି ସକାମ, ବିଧିଅନୁସାରେ କର୍ମ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। କିନ୍ତୁ ଯେ ନିଜ ଆଶ୍ରମାଚାରରୁ ଶୂନ୍ୟ, ଜ୍ଞାନୀମାନେ ତାକୁ ପତିତ କହନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• niṣkāmaḥ: desireless
• niṣkāmaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣkāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular, Masculine

• vā: or
• vā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• sakāmaḥ: with desire
• sakāmaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular, Masculine

• kuryāt: should perform
• kuryāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi Lin (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd, Singular

• karma: action
• karma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular, Neuter

• yathāvidhi: according to rules
• yathāvidhi: Kriya-visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvidhi (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverbial Compound

• svāśramācāraśūnyaḥ: devoid of conduct of own ashrama
• svāśramācāraśūnyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svāśramācāraśūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular, Masculine

• ca: and/but
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• patitaḥ: fallen
• patitaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म) in Passive construction
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ktanta (Past Participle/क्त), Nominative, Singular, Masculine

• procyate: is said/called
• procyate: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: Lat (Present/लट), Passive (Karmani), 3rd, Singular

• budhaiḥ: by the wise
• budhaiḥ: Karta (Agent/कर्ता) in Passive
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural, Masculine

Speaker

Narada (instructional discourse context within Purva Bhaga teachings)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It defines dharma as disciplined, rule-based duty (yathāvidhi) and warns that abandoning one’s āśrama-ācāra is spiritually ruinous, regardless of whether one’s actions are desireless or desire-driven.

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

It supports bhakti indirectly by insisting that devotion is grounded in dharmic living—steady āśrama conduct and prescribed duties create purity and steadiness that sustain genuine devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis on yathāvidhi points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharmaśāstra-style observance—performing rites and duties with correct method rather than improvisation.