Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

स्वकर्मफलभोगानां हेतुमात्रा हि जन्तवः । कर्माणि दैवमूलानि दैवाधीनमिदं जगत् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

svakarmaphalabhogānāṃ hetumātrā hi jantavaḥ | karmāṇi daivamūlāni daivādhīnamidaṃ jagat || 56 ||

Translation

Os seres vivos são apenas as causas instrumentais para experimentar os frutos das suas próprias ações. As ações em si estão enraizadas no destino, e todo este mundo é governado pelo destino.

Word by Word

• स्व: one's own
• स्व: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; स्वकीयवाचक (reflexive/possessive adjective)

• कर्म: action
• कर्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासमध्यपद (in compound)

• फल: fruit/result
• फल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासमध्यपद (in compound)

• भोगानाम्: of the experiences/enjoyments
• भोगानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समस्तपद: स्व-कर्म-फल-भोगानाम् (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध: 'of the enjoyments of one's own actions' results)

• हेतुमात्राः: mere causes/instruments
• हेतुमात्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: हेतुः एव मात्रा (mere cause)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेत्वर्थक-निपात

• जन्तवः: creatures
• जन्तवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कर्माणि: actions
• कर्माणि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दैवमूलानि: rooted in fate/divine dispensation
• दैवमूलानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैव + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दैवस्य मूलम्; विशेषण (qualifies कर्माणि)

• दैवाधीनम्: dependent on fate/divine will
• दैवाधीनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैव + अधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दैवस्य अधीनम्; विशेषण (qualifies जगत्)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Demonstrative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It frames worldly experience as karmaphala-bhoga (the tasting of one’s own results) while asserting that the unfolding of actions and outcomes operates under daiva—encouraging humility, ethical living, and reliance on higher order rather than egoistic doership.

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

By reducing personal doership to being an instrument, the verse supports surrender (śaraṇāgati): a devotee performs dharmic action and offers agency to the Divine, accepting outcomes as governed by daiva and cultivating steadiness in bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It indirectly aligns with Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology) and the broader daiva concept—showing how destiny/time factors are used in tradition to understand the maturation of karma, even while dharmic effort remains essential.