Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

पठेदुपनिषद्वाक्यं वेदांतार्थांश्च चिंतयेत् । सहस्त्रशीर्षं देवं च सदा ध्यायेज्जितेंद्रियः ॥ १०३ ॥

Transliteration

paṭhedupaniṣadvākyaṃ vedāṃtārthāṃśca ciṃtayet | sahastraśīrṣaṃ devaṃ ca sadā dhyāyejjiteṃdriyaḥ || 103 ||

Translation

இந்திரியங்களை அடக்கியவன் உபநிஷத் வாக்கியங்களைப் பாராயணம் செய்து, வேதாந்தப் பொருள்களைச் சிந்தித்து, ஆயிரத் தலைகளுடைய பகவான் நாராயணனை எப்போதும் தியானிக்க வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• पठेत्: should recite/read
• पठेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• उपनिषद्-वाक्यम्: the Upaniṣadic statement(s)
• उपनिषद्-वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपनिषद् + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• वेदान्त-अर्थान्: the meanings of Vedānta
• वेदान्त-अर्थान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदान्त + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सहस्र-शीर्षम्: thousand-headed
• सहस्र-शीर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• देवम्: the God/deity
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• जित-इन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जित-इन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त; √जि धातु) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य इन्द्रियाणि जितानि सः (one whose senses are conquered)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents a threefold sādhana for liberation: Upaniṣadic study (śravaṇa), contemplation of Vedānta meaning (manana), and steady meditation on the Supreme Lord (nididhyāsana), grounded in sense-mastery (jitendriyatā).

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

By directing the practitioner to constant meditation on the divine “thousand-headed” Lord, it frames devotion as uninterrupted remembrance (smaraṇa/dhyāna) supported by understanding the Upaniṣadic vision of the Supreme.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis is not on a specific Vedāṅga technique but on Vedānta-based disciplined practice: correct recitation/study of Upaniṣadic statements and reflective inquiry into their meanings as a daily spiritual method.