Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

अलभ्यमेतत्तंत्रेषु पुराणेष्वपि मानद । यदिहोदितमस्मभ्यं त्वयातिकरुणात्मना ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

alabhyametattaṃtreṣu purāṇeṣvapi mānada | yadihoditamasmabhyaṃ tvayātikaruṇātmanā || 2 ||

Translation

Ó doador de honra, este ensinamento não se encontra facilmente nem mesmo nos Tantras e nos Purāṇas. Contudo, aqui tu o proferiste para nós, tu cuja natureza é a grande compaixão.

Word by Word

• अलभ्यम्: unattainable
• अलभ्यम्: विशेषण (Adjective of एतत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + लभ्य (लभ् धातु → यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समासपूर्वक विशेषण = ‘not obtainable’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्ता/विषय (Topic/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• तन्त्रेषु: in tantras
• तन्त्रेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पुराणेषु: in purāṇas
• पुराणेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also/even’

• मानद: O giver of honor (respected one)
• मानद: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘one who gives honor’ (epithet)

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

• इह: here
• इह: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• उदितम्: has been stated
• उदितम्: कर्मणि-भाव (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + इ (धातु) → उदित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अस्मभ्यम्: to us
• अस्मभ्यम्: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), बहुवचन

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अतिकरुणात्मना: by you, whose nature is exceedingly compassionate
• अतिकरुणात्मना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent with qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति + करुण + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (अतिकरुणः आत्मा यस्य सः) used as epithet; instrumental of agent-quality

Speaker

Sanatkumara (one of the Sanaka brothers) addressing Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It highlights the rarity of true instruction and frames it as a grace received through a compassionate teacher, emphasizing humility and the sanctity of guru-to-disciple transmission.

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

By praising the teacher’s compassion and the gift of instruction, it mirrors bhakti’s core mood—receiving divine and guru grace (kṛpā) as the means to higher understanding.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It underscores that specialized, technical shāstric knowledge (often associated with Vedanga-style instruction) is not merely textual but must be properly taught—implying disciplined study, correct method, and authentic lineage.