Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

अव्यक्तमिति विज्ञेयं लिंगग्राह्यमतींद्रियम् । अविश्रंभेण मंतव्यं विश्रंभे धारयेन्मनः ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

avyaktamiti vijñeyaṃ liṃgagrāhyamatīṃdriyam | aviśraṃbheṇa maṃtavyaṃ viśraṃbhe dhārayenmanaḥ || 78 ||

Translation

அந்த உண்மையை ‘அவ்யக்தம்’ என்று அறிக—இந்திரியங்களுக்கு அப்பாற்பட்டது, நுண்ணிய குறியீடுகளால் மட்டும் அறியப்படுவது. தளர்வின்றி விழிப்புடன் தியானிக்க; உறுதியான நம்பிக்கை வந்தபின் மனத்தை அங்கேயே நிலைநிறுத்துக॥

Word by Word

• अव्यक्तम्: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक

• विज्ञेयम्: to be known
• विज्ञेयम्: Kriya (विधेय/आदेश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्, gerundive/भाव्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञातव्यम्’

• लिङ्गग्राह्यम्: apprehensible by marks/signs
• लिङ्गग्राह्यम्: Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिङ्ग-ग्राह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (लिङ्गेन ग्राह्यम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अतीन्द्रियम्: beyond the senses
• अतीन्द्रियम्: Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रियाणाम् अतिक्रान्तम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अविश्रम्भेण: with caution / without complacency
• अविश्रम्भेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-विश्रम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण; ‘अविश्रम्भ’ = अविश्वास/अप्रमाद (lack of complacency)

• मन्तव्यम्: to be contemplated
• मन्तव्यम्: Kriya (विधेय/आदेश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) + तव्यत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्, gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘चिन्तयितव्यम्’

• विश्रम्भे: in confidence / in ease
• विश्रम्भे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्रम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• धारयेत्: should hold / should fix
• धारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मनः: the mind
• मनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that the highest Reality is Avyakta (unmanifest) and cannot be captured by the senses; it is approached through subtle indicators and sustained contemplation, culminating in firm mental absorption.

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

While framed in jñāna-yoga language, it supports bhakti by implying that the Lord’s highest nature is beyond sense-perception; devotion matures from external forms to steady inner remembrance where the mind rests unwaveringly.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is yogic discipline—careful, consistent contemplation and then stabilizing the mind when inner certainty (viśrambha) is attained.