Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

अविश्रांतमनालंबमपाथेयमदैशिकम् । तमः कर्त्तारमध्वानं कथमेको गमिष्यसि ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

aviśrāṃtamanālaṃbamapātheyamadaiśikam | tamaḥ karttāramadhvānaṃ kathameko gamiṣyasi || 69 ||

Translation

เจ้าจะเดินทางเพียงลำพังได้อย่างไร ในหนทางที่ไร้การพัก ไร้ที่พึ่ง ไร้เสบียง ไร้ผู้นำทาง และมีความมืดเป็นผู้สร้างหนทางนั้นเอง?

Word by Word

• अविश्रान्तम्: unresting, without pause
• अविश्रान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-विश्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• अनालम्बम्: without support
• अनालम्बम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-आलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अपाथेयम्: without provisions for the journey
• अपाथेयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-पाथेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अदैशिकम्: without a guide/teacher
• अदैशिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-दैशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तमः: darkness
• तमः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्तारम्: maker, doer
• कर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अध्वानम्: path, road
• अध्वानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• गमिष्यसि: you will go
• गमिष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It portrays worldly existence as a perilous journey generated by tamas (ignorance), emphasizing that without refuge, provisions, and a guiding teacher, one cannot safely reach liberation.

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

By stressing the need for “support” and a “guide,” it implicitly points to taking śaraṇāgati (refuge) and steady practice—classically fulfilled through devotion to Vishnu and guidance from a guru—as the safe means across the dark path.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the practical necessity of proper instruction (ācārya-upadeśa)—a prerequisite for correct application of Vedic disciplines (especially Vyākaraṇa and Kalpa in practice), since an “adaiśika” (unguided) approach leads to error on the spiritual path.