Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

तमः परिगतं वेश्य यथा दीपेन दृश्यते । तथा बुद्धिप्रदीपेन शक्य आत्मा निरीक्षितुम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

tamaḥ parigataṃ veśya yathā dīpena dṛśyate | tathā buddhipradīpena śakya ātmā nirīkṣitum || 37 ||

Translation

Как предмет, окутанный тьмой, становится видимым при свете лампы, так и Атман различим светильником очищенного разума.

Word by Word

• तमः: darkness
• तमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिगतम्: enveloped
• परिगतम्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि+गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तमः-विशेषण: 'enveloped/spread around'

• पश्य: see/behold
• पश्य: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; संबोधनार्थ (addressing listener)

• यथा: as
• यथा: उपमान (comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय: 'as'

• दीपेन: by a lamp
• दीपेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• दृश्यते: is seen
• दृश्यते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'is seen'

• तथा: so
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय: 'so/likewise'

• बुद्धिप्रदीपेन: by the lamp of intellect
• बुद्धिप्रदीपेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'बुद्धेः प्रदीपः'; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• शक्यः: is possible (to be)
• शक्यः: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: शक्-धातोः यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (potential/fit), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आत्मा-विशेषण: 'possible/able (to be)'

• आत्मा: the Self
• आत्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निरीक्षितुम्: to be seen/observed
• निरीक्षितुम्: प्रयोजन/कर्म (purpose complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive): 'to behold/observe'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Atman

FAQs

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

It teaches that ignorance (tamas) hides the Self, and that clear discernment (buddhi as a lamp) is the direct means to recognize the Atman and move toward moksha.

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

While the verse is framed in jnana language, it supports bhakti by implying that devotion purifies the mind and intellect; when buddhi becomes steady and sattvic through Vishnu-bhakti, the inner Self is more readily discerned.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on viveka (discrimination) rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it aligns with disciplined study and right reasoning (yukti) used in shastra learning to remove confusion and reveal meaning—paralleling how buddhi removes inner darkness.