Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation

Devanagari script

अनुच्छेदाय लोकानामनुच्छेदाय कर्मणाम् । कृत्वा शुभाशुभं कर्म मोक्षो नामेह लभ्यते ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

anucchedāya lokānāmanucchedāya karmaṇām | kṛtvā śubhāśubhaṃ karma mokṣo nāmeha labhyate || 21 ||

Translation

เพื่อความสืบเนื่องของโลกทั้งหลาย และเพื่อความสืบเนื่องของกระแสกรรม มนุษย์จึงกระทำกรรมทั้งดีและชั่ว; และในที่นี้เองย่อมได้สิ่งที่เรียกว่า ‘โมกษะ’।

Word by Word

• अनुच्छेदाय: for non-destruction / for continuity
• अनुच्छेदाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुच्छेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• लोकानाम्: of worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अनुच्छेदाय: for non-destruction
• अनुच्छेदाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुच्छेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कर्मणाम्: of actions
• कर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) = 'having done'

• शुभ-अशुभम्: good and bad
• शुभ-अशुभम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास; कर्म इति विशेषण

• कर्म: action/deed
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मोक्षः: liberation
• मोक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नाम: indeed
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle) = 'indeed/by name'

• इह: here
• इह: Desha-Adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'here'

• लभ्यते: is obtained
• लभ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

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 frames karma as part of sustaining cosmic order (the continuity of worlds and actions) while pointing to moksha as an attainable realization “here,” implying liberation is not merely post-mortem but can be realized through right understanding amid action.

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

While bhakti is not named directly, the verse supports the bhakti framework of living in the world and performing one’s duties; devotion refines intention and surrender so that action sustains dharma without binding, enabling liberation to be realized in life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly underscores karma-kāṇḍa discipline—proper performance of prescribed actions (linked with Kalpa/ritual procedure) and ethical discernment of śubha vs. aśubha—showing how regulated action supports higher spiritual aims.