Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

भगवन्कृतकृत्योऽस्मि विगतं कल्मषं मम । मामुद्धर महाभाग ज्ञानदानेन पण्डित ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

bhagavankṛtakṛtyo'smi vigataṃ kalmaṣaṃ mama | māmuddhara mahābhāga jñānadānena paṇḍita || 40 ||

Translation

ఓ భగవాన్, నేను కృతకృత్యుడనయ్యాను; నా కల్మషం తొలగిపోయింది. ఓ మహాభాగ పండితా, జ్ఞానదానంతో నన్ను उद्धరించండి॥

Word by Word

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत-कृत्यः: one whose purpose is fulfilled
• कृत-कृत्यः: कर्ता (Karta; predicate adjective of 'asmi')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ-धातु, क्त, कृदन्त) + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: कर्मधारय (कृतं कृत्यं यस्य = one whose duty is accomplished)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• विगतम्: gone, removed
• विगतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + गत (गम्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'कल्मषम्')

• कल्मषम्: sin, impurity
• कल्मषम्: कर्म/विषय (Object/State: impurity removed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Singular)

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उद्धर: lift up, rescue
• उद्धर: क्रिया (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: कर्मधारय (महान् भागः यस्य/महाभागः)

• ज्ञान-दानेन: by the giving of knowledge
• ज्ञान-दानेन: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (ज्ञानस्य दानम् = gift of knowledge)

• पण्डित: O learned one
• पण्डित: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Nārada (addressing Sanatkumāra)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It portrays the seeker’s surrender: having tasted purification, Nārada asks the guru to complete the ascent by bestowing liberating knowledge (jñāna) that uproots remaining impurity (kalmaṣa) and leads to mokṣa.

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

Even while requesting jñāna, the tone is devotional—addressing the teacher as “Bhagavan” and “Mahābhāga.” It shows that humility, reverence, and dependence on grace are integral to progress, with knowledge granted through a sanctified guru-disciple relationship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes jñāna-dāna (transmission of spiritual knowledge) rather than a specific Vedāṅga technique; practically, it points to disciplined learning under a paṇḍita (qualified teacher) as the essential method for inner purification and right understanding.