Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

चांद्रायणादिभिर्यत्र शरीरस्य विशोषणम् । तपो निगदितं सद्भिर्योगसाधनमुत्तमम् ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

cāṃdrāyaṇādibhiryatra śarīrasya viśoṣaṇam | tapo nigaditaṃ sadbhiryogasādhanamuttamam || 88 ||

Translation

சாந்திராயண முதலிய விரதங்களால் உடலைக் கட்டுப்படுத்தி மெலிவாக்கும் அந்த நடைமுறையைச் சத்புருஷர்கள் ‘தபஸ்’ என அறிவிக்கின்றனர்; அதுவே யோகசாதனத்தில் உத்தமம்.

Word by Word

• cāndrāyaṇa-ādibhiḥ: by Cāndrāyaṇa and other (austerities)
• cāndrāyaṇa-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāndrāyaṇa + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ādi-śabda: ‘and others’)

• yatra: wherein
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; relative adverb (सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय) ‘where/wherein’

• śarīrasya: of the body
• śarīrasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• viśoṣaṇam: emaciation; drying up
• viśoṣaṇam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vi-śoṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; from √śuṣ ‘to dry’ with vi-)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nigaditam: is declared
• nigaditam: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-gadita (कृदन्त; past passive participle from √gad ‘to say’)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; passive sense ‘is said/declared’

• sadbhiḥ: by the good (sages)
• sadbhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive; ‘by’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• yoga-sādhanam: a means to yoga
• yoga-sādhanam: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga + sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (yogasya sādhanam)

• uttamam: supreme
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with yoga-sādhanam

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Cāndrāyaṇa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It defines tapas as rigorous vow-based discipline—like Cāndrāyaṇa—that purifies and restrains the body, making it a superior support for Yoga and inner realization.

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

By presenting vows and self-restraint as ‘tapas,’ it implies that disciplined living steadies the mind and senses—conditions that strengthen sustained remembrance and worship, which are essential for mature Bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to vrata-prayoga (ritual observance) such as Cāndrāyaṇa, which depends on calendrical reckoning tied to Jyotiṣa (Vedic astronomy/astrology) for lunar timing and proper performance.