Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation

Devanagari script

अनेन क्रमयोगेन बहुजातिसुकर्मणाम् । कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

anena kramayogena bahujātisukarmaṇām | karmaṇā manasā vācā brahma saṃpadyate tadā || 31 ||

Translation

Этим постепенным йогическим путём (крама-йога), благодаря благим деяниям, накопленным во многих рождениях,—делом, умом и речью—тогда достигают Брахмана.

Word by Word

• anena: by this
• anena: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by this’

• krama-yogena: by the methodical discipline
• krama-yogena: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (क्रमस्य योगः/क्रमयोगः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• bahujāti-sukarmaṇām: of those with many births (and) good deeds
• bahujāti-sukarmaṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu + jāti + su + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (बहुजातीनां सुकर्मणाम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of (those) of many births and good deeds’

• karmaṇā: by action
• karmaṇā: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• manasā: by mind
• manasā: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• vācā: by speech
• vācā: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karma (कर्म/predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate-noun

• saṃpadyate: is attained/becomes
• saṃpadyate: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-pad (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation is often ripened through a gradual discipline supported by accumulated merit, integrating outer conduct (karma), inner purification (mind), and sanctified expression (speech), culminating in realization of Brahman.

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

Although it names Brahman, the method aligns with bhakti-sadhana too: actions become offerings, the mind becomes absorbed in the Divine, and speech becomes japa/stotra—so devotion matures step by step into direct realization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It indirectly emphasizes correct use of vāc (speech) in mantra and recitation—supported by Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar)—as part of disciplined practice alongside right action and mental focus.