Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

एते यमाश्च नियमाः पञ्च पञ्चप्रकीर्तिताः । विशिष्टफलदाः काम्या निष्कामानां विमुक्तिदाः ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

ete yamāśca niyamāḥ pañca pañcaprakīrtitāḥ | viśiṣṭaphaladāḥ kāmyā niṣkāmānāṃ vimuktidāḥ || 14 ||

Translation

ดังนี้ ยามะและนิยามะได้ประกาศไว้—ห้าประการและห้าประการ เมื่อปฏิบัติด้วยความปรารถนาย่อมให้ผลเฉพาะที่มุ่งหวัง แต่สำหรับผู้ไร้ความใคร่ปรารถนา ย่อมประทานความหลุดพ้น

Word by Word

• ete: these
• ete: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• yamāḥ: restraints (yamas)
• yamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• niyamāḥ: observances (niyamas)
• niyamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• pañca: five
• pañca: Saṅkhyā (संख्या/Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable numeral used adjectivally; ‘five’

• pañca-prakīrtitāḥ: proclaimed as five (each)
• pañca-prakīrtitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + prakīrtita (कृदन्त; pra+√kīrt ‘to proclaim’, past passive participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; कर्मधारय-समास: ‘pañca (iti) prakīrtitāḥ’ = proclaimed as five

• viśiṣṭa-phala-dāḥ: giving special results
• viśiṣṭa-phala-dāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśiṣṭa (कृदन्त/विशेषण) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक from √dā ‘giver’)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘viśiṣṭaṃ phalaṃ dadati’

• kāmyāḥ: desire-motivated (optional)
• kāmyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ‘desired/for fulfilling desires’

• niṣkāmānām: of the desireless
• niṣkāmānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/for whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣkāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• vimukti-dāḥ: granting liberation
• vimukti-dāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimukti (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक from √dā ‘giver’)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘vimuktiṃ dadati’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha Dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It distinguishes two modes of practice: desire-driven discipline yields limited, specific rewards, while desireless discipline becomes a direct means to moksha.

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

By emphasizing niṣkāma (non-selfish) intent, it aligns with bhakti’s core principle of offering conduct and practice without personal gain, turning discipline into a liberating offering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the dharmic method—ethical restraints and observances should be practiced with purified intention to shift from results-based karma to liberation-oriented sādhana.