Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

यत एवमतो लोके नास्त्यमंत्रं यदक्षरम् । यद्विद्येति समाख्यातं सर्वथा सर्वतः सदा ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

yata evamato loke nāstyamaṃtraṃ yadakṣaram | yadvidyeti samākhyātaṃ sarvathā sarvataḥ sadā || 10 ||

Translation

ଏହେତୁ ଏହି ଲୋକରେ ମନ୍ତ୍ର ନୁହେଁ ଏମିତି କୌଣସି ଅକ୍ଷର ନାହିଁ। ‘ବିଦ୍ୟା’ ବୋଲି ଯାହା କୁହାଯାଏ, ତାହା ସର୍ବଥା, ସର୍ବତ୍ର ଓ ସଦା ସେହି ମନ୍ତ୍ରଶକ୍ତିରେ ବ୍ୟାପ୍ତ।

Word by Word

• यतः: because
• यतः: हेतु (Hetu/Cause marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/causal particle); ‘because/for’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: हेतु/निगमन (Inference marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (inferential particle)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle)

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अमन्त्रम्: a non-mantra (something that is not a mantra)
• अमन्त्रम्: विधेय (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘नास्ति’ इत्यस्य विधेय (predicate)

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative correlate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• अक्षरम्: a syllable/imperishable letter
• अक्षरम्: विधेय/विशेष्य (Predicate/Head)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत्-विशेष्य

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• विद्या: knowledge
• विद्या: नाम (Appellation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘इति’ पूर्वं नामरूपेण

• इति: thus
• इति: उद्धरण/वाक्यचिह्न (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• समाख्यातम्: is called/declared
• समाख्यातम्: विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√ख्या (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (called/declared)

• सर्वथा: in every way
• सर्वथा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: in every way)

• सर्वतः: everywhere/entirely
• सर्वतः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: from all sides/entirely)

• सदा: always
• सदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: always)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/vidya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It asserts the sanctity of śabda (sacred sound): every akṣara has mantra-nature, so vidyā is not merely information but a spiritually potent principle pervading life.

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

By treating sound and utterance as inherently mantra-like, it supports bhakti practices such as nāma-japa and stotra, where devotion is carried through sanctified speech and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa: correct understanding of akṣara (phoneme/syllable), pronunciation, and linguistic structure is presented as intrinsically connected to mantra efficacy.