Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

Sanatkumāra’s Bhāgavata Tantra: Tattvas, Māyā-Bonds, Embodiment, and the Necessity of Dīkṣā

Devanagari script

विषयान्दर्शयत्येषात्मनांशाकारणं ह्यतः । करोति भोग्यं यानासौ करणेन परेण वै ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

viṣayāndarśayatyeṣātmanāṃśākāraṇaṃ hyataḥ | karoti bhogyaṃ yānāsau karaṇena pareṇa vai || 53 ||

Translation

เครื่องมือนี้ย่อมทำให้อารมณ์ทั้งหลายปรากฏแก่การรับรู้; เพราะเหตุนั้นจึงนับว่าเป็นเหตุอันเป็นส่วนหนึ่งแห่งอาตมัน และด้วยเครื่องมืออันสูงยิ่งนั้น ย่อมทำให้อารมณ์เหล่านั้นควรแก่การเสวย

Word by Word

• विषयान्: objects (of sense)
• विषयान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दर्शयति: makes (them) appear; shows
• दर्शयति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• एषा: this (she)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आत्मन्-अंश-आकारणम्: the cause as a portion of the self
• आत्मन्-अंश-आकारणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + आकारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय/विशेषणभावे (context: 'as the cause in the form of a portion of self')

• हि: indeed
• हि: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/reason)

• अतः: therefore; from this
• अतः: Hetu/Phala (हेतु/फल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), हेतुफलसूचक (therefore/from this)

• करोति: makes
• करोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भोग्यम्: enjoyable; fit to be experienced
• भोग्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-योग्यतार्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यानम् इति)

• यानम्: vehicle; instrument of going
• यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असौ: that (one)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (pronoun)

• करणेन: by/with an instrument
• करणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परेण: higher; superior
• परेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (करणेन इति)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Vedanga/technical exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Atman

FAQs

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

It explains that perception and enjoyment arise through subtle instruments (karaṇas) linked to the Self, implying that mastery of these instruments is essential for liberation.

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

By showing that experience is mediated by inner instruments, it supports bhakti practice as a disciplined redirection of perception and enjoyment toward the Supreme rather than toward transient sense-objects.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, Vedanga-style analysis of cognition: how viṣayas become knowable/experienceable through karaṇas (instruments), aiding disciplined study and practice (adhyātma-vicāra) alongside ritual and recitation.