Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

स्थानं न शक्यते यस्य स्वरूपं वा कदाचन । निर्देष्टुं मुनिशार्दूल द्र ष्टुं वाप्यकृतात्मभिः ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

sthānaṃ na śakyate yasya svarūpaṃ vā kadācana | nirdeṣṭuṃ muniśārdūla dra ṣṭuṃ vāpyakṛtātmabhiḥ || 14 ||

Translation

ହେ ମୁନିଶାର୍ଦୂଳ! ଯାହାଙ୍କର ସ୍ଥାନ କିମ୍ବା ସ୍ୱରୂପ କେବେ ନିଖୁତ ଭାବେ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ କରାଯାଇପାରେ ନାହିଁ; ଏବଂ ଅକୃତାତ୍ମା (ଅଶୁଦ୍ଧ ଅନ୍ତଃକରଣ) ଲୋକେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖିବି ପାରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• स्थानम्: place/abode
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म; शक्यते इत्यस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• शक्यते: is possible (to be)
• शक्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive sense: ‘is possible’)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धः (whose)

• स्वरूपम्: true nature/essential form
• स्वरूपम्: Karma (कर्म; शक्यते इत्यस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वं रूपम्)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• निर्देष्टुम्: to describe
• निर्देष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन; infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive); अर्थः ‘to point out/describe’

• मुनिशार्दूल: O tiger among sages
• मुनिशार्दूल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मुनिः शार्दूल इव)

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन; infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive); अर्थः ‘to see’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात

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

• अकृतात्मभिः: by the undisciplined (persons)
• अकृतात्मभिः: Kartr (कर्ता; साधारण-कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + कृत + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (कृतात्मा न यस्य सः) = ‘uncontrolled/undisciplined’; करण/कर्ता-निर्देशः (by such persons)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme cannot be captured by ordinary description (place/form) and becomes knowable only through inner purification—pointing to moksha through refined consciousness rather than mere speculation.

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

It implies that divine vision is not forced by argument or curiosity; it arises when the devotee becomes purified (akṛtātmā → kṛtātmā) through sincere bhakti, self-control, and steady practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily stresses sādhanā (inner discipline) rather than a specific Vedanga; as a practical takeaway, it aligns with Vedic training in mental refinement and correct practice that supports realization beyond mere verbal definition.