Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

यथाऽलोको हि जन्तूनां चेष्टाकारणतां गतः । तथैव सर्वसिद्धीनां भक्तिः परमकारणम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

yathā'loko hi jantūnāṃ ceṣṭākāraṇatāṃ gataḥ | tathaiva sarvasiddhīnāṃ bhaktiḥ paramakāraṇam || 3 ||

Translation

ଯେପରି ଆଲୋକ ପ୍ରାଣୀମାନଙ୍କର ଚେଷ୍ଟାର କାରଣ ହୁଏ, ସେପରି ସମସ୍ତ ସିଦ୍ଧିର ପରମ କାରଣ ହେଉଛି ଭକ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative adverb (यथा-निपात)

• ālokaḥ: light
• ālokaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• jantūnām: of creatures
• jantūnām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jantu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• ceṣṭā-kāraṇatām: the state of being the cause of activity
• ceṣṭā-kāraṇatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ceṣṭā + kāraṇatā (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; state/abstract noun: 'the status of being the cause of activity'

• gataḥ: has become; has attained
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (गम् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with 'ālokaḥ'

• tathā: so; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative adverb (तथा-निपात)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• sarva-siddhīnām: of all attainments
• sarva-siddhīnām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; 'of all accomplishments'

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• parama-kāraṇam: the supreme cause
• parama-kāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate nominative: 'the supreme cause'

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

FAQs

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

It establishes bhakti as the fundamental enabling power behind every spiritual accomplishment—just as light makes all activity possible, devotion makes realization and success possible.

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

It presents bhakti not as one option among many, but as the primary cause that activates and completes all sādhana, leading to siddhi and ultimately higher spiritual fulfillment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is prioritizing devotional practice as the core discipline that empowers all other methods.