Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 140

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

समर्थः सर्वकल्पेषु योऽनुकल्पं समाचरेत् । न सांगशयिकं तस्य दुर्मतेर्जायते फलम् ॥ १४० ॥

Transliteration

samarthaḥ sarvakalpeṣu yo'nukalpaṃ samācaret | na sāṃgaśayikaṃ tasya durmaterjāyate phalam || 140 ||

Translation

แม้ผู้ใดจะสามารถในพิธีตามคัลปะทั้งปวง แต่กลับเลือกปฏิบัติแต่เพียงอนุกัลปะ ด้วยเจตนาที่หลงผิดนั้น ผลอันสมบูรณ์พร้อมองค์ประกอบย่อมไม่บังเกิดแก่เขา

Word by Word

• समर्थः: capable
• समर्थः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (capable)

• सर्वकल्पेषु: in all (ritual) alternatives/occasions
• सर्वकल्पेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-कल्प (प्रातिपदिक); सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वे कल्पाः)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• अनुकल्पम्: a subsidiary alternative (anukalpa)
• अनुकल्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु-कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should practice/perform properly
• समाचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• साङ्गशयिकम्: connected with (mere) bed/lying down (śayikā) along with accessories; i.e., of that kind
• साङ्गशयिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साङ्गशयिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying फलम्)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• दुर्मतेः: of the evil-minded (person)
• दुर्मतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्-मति (प्रातिपदिक); दुर् (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दुष्टा मतिः यस्य)

• जायते: arises/is produced
• जायते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• फलम्: result, fruit
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/उद्भव्यमान), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada within Vedanga-Kalpa context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharmic results depend not only on ability but on fidelity to the primary injunction; choosing a substitute out of negligence or wrong intent diminishes the full, ‘complete’ fruit of the act.

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

By implication, it underscores sincerity and proper adherence: just as ritual fruit weakens with careless substitution, devotion too should not be reduced to convenient stand-ins when one is capable of fuller, disciplined practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-Vedanga (ritual procedure) is highlighted—specifically the rule of anukalpa (authorized substitutes) and the principle that substitutes are context-dependent and should not replace primary rites when one is competent to perform them.