Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

एतेभ्योऽपि परो ज्ञेयो नित्यं ध्यानपरायणः । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कर्त्तव्यो धर्मसंग्रहः ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

etebhyo'pi paro jñeyo nityaṃ dhyānaparāyaṇaḥ | tasmātsarvaprayatnena karttavyo dharmasaṃgrahaḥ || 37 ||

Translation

ଏସବୁଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଉଚ୍ଚ ଜଣେ—ଯିଏ ନିତ୍ୟ ଧ୍ୟାନପରାୟଣ। ତେଣୁ ସର୍ବ ପ୍ରୟାସରେ ଧର୍ମସଂଗ୍ରହ (ଧର୍ମକୁ ସଂଗ୍ରହ କରି ଧାରଣ) କରିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• एतेभ्यः: from these/than these
• एतेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-‘from/than’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम/pronoun

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

• परः: higher/superior
• परः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (higher/superior)

• ज्ञेयः: to be known
• ज्ञेयः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative)

• ध्यानपरायणः: devoted to meditation
• ध्यानपरायणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान-परायण (प्रातिपदिक; ध्यान + परायण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (ध्यानं परायणं यस्य/one devoted to meditation)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान—therefore/from that)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम/pronoun

• सर्वप्रयत्नेन: with all effort
• सर्वप्रयत्नेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + प्रयत्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय (सर्वः प्रयत्नः = all effort)

• कर्तव्यः: should be done
• कर्तव्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be done’

• धर्मसंग्रहः: collection/compendium of dharma
• धर्मसंग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-संग्रह (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + संग्रह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य संग्रहः/collection of dharma)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)

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 ranks the ever-meditative practitioner as superior, and then urges a disciplined, comprehensive commitment to dharma—showing that inner contemplation and outer right conduct must be integrated for spiritual ascent.

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

While the verse emphasizes dhyāna, its message supports bhakti-sādhana by valuing unbroken, single-pointed absorption; such constancy is the inner core of Vishnu-bhakti as taught in Narada Purana’s broader devotional framework.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to systematic dharma organization (saṅgraha)—a practical discipline aligned with kalpa (ritual procedure) and smṛti-based conduct, encouraging orderly application of scriptural duties rather than scattered practice.