Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । कर्मणा केन योगस्य सिद्धिर्भवति योगिनाम् । तदुपायं यथातत्त्वं ब्रूहि मे वदतां वर ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | karmaṇā kena yogasya siddhirbhavati yoginām | tadupāyaṃ yathātattvaṃ brūhi me vadatāṃ vara || 26 ||

Translation

ନାରଦ କହିଲେ—ଯୋଗୀମାନଙ୍କର ଯୋଗସିଦ୍ଧି କେଉଁ ପ୍ରକାର କର୍ମଦ୍ୱାରା ହୁଏ? ହେ ବକ୍ତାମାନଙ୍କ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ତାହାର ଉପାୟ ଯଥାତତ୍ତ୍ୱ ମୋତେ କହ।

Word by Word

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; √वच् = to say

• कर्मणा: by what action
• कर्मणा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• केन: by which
• केन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• योगस्य: of yoga
• योगस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• सिद्धिः: success; attainment
• सिद्धिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवति: arises; happens
• भवति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; √भू = to become

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (that)

• उपायम्: means; method
• उपायम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यथातत्त्वम्: as it really is
• यथातत्त्वम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + तत्त्व (अव्ययीकृत)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb): 'according to reality/as it truly is'

• ब्रूहि: tell
• ब्रूहि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; √ब्रू = to tell

• मे: to me
• मे: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6th/4th), एकवचन; enclitic; 'to me/for me'

• वदताम्: of speakers
• वदताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of those who speak'

• वर: O best (one)
• वर: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: jijnasa (inquisitive)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Yogins
• Yoga

FAQs

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

The verse frames Yoga as something attained through a definite, truthful method (upāya) rooted in right practice (karma), and it signals a teacher–disciple inquiry where correct means matter as much as the goal.

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

While Bhakti is not named here, Narada’s question aligns with the Purāṇic approach that spiritual attainment requires a concrete sādhana; in later instruction this often includes devotion-oriented disciplines as effective “actions” supporting Yoga.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is directly taught in this verse; it is a methodological question about sādhana—asking for the precise practical means to success in Yoga.