Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

तपसां विक्रयं चक्रे व्रतानां विक्रयं तथा । परार्थं तीर्थगमनं कलत्रार्थमकारयत् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

tapasāṃ vikrayaṃ cakre vratānāṃ vikrayaṃ tathā | parārthaṃ tīrthagamanaṃ kalatrārthamakārayat || 13 ||

Translation

அவன் தவங்களையும் விரதங்களையும் விற்பனை செய்யத் தொடங்கினான்; பரமார்த்தத்திற்கான தீர்த்தயாத்திரையையும் உலகியலுக்காக மாற்றி, மனைவி பெறுவதற்காக ஏற்பாடு செய்தான்।

Word by Word

• तपसाम्: of austerities
• तपसाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• विक्रयम्: sale
• विक्रयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• चक्रे: did/made
• चक्रे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्रतानाम्: of vows
• व्रतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• विक्रयम्: sale
• विक्रयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• परार्थम्: for others' sake
• परार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: पर + अर्थ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (as purpose)

• तीर्थगमनम्: pilgrimage/going to holy places
• तीर्थगमनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तीर्थस्य गमनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कलत्रार्थम्: for the sake of a wife
• कलत्रार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलत्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कलत्रस्य अर्थः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (as purpose)

• अकारयत्: caused (to be done)/made (someone do)
• अकारयत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोजक (Causative); लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a didactic critique of adharma)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It condemns turning sacred disciplines—tapas, vrata, and tīrtha-yātrā—into transactions for personal gain, insisting that dharma must be pursued for higher spiritual ends rather than worldly bargaining.

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

By warning against motive-driven religiosity, it indirectly supports bhakti as sincerity of heart—devotion is diminished when practices are performed as a means to purchase outcomes instead of offering oneself to the divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights dharma-nīti (ethical application of ritual life): vows and pilgrimages must follow proper intention (saṅkalpa) and conduct, otherwise the external rite becomes empty—even if performed with technical correctness.