Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

योगस्वरूप-धारणा-समाधि-वर्णनम् (केशिध्वजोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

एवं भद्रा सनादीनां समास्थाय गुणैर्युतः । यमाख्यैर्नियमाख्यैश्च युञ्जीत नियतो यतिः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ bhadrā sanādīnāṃ samāsthāya guṇairyutaḥ | yamākhyairniyamākhyaiśca yuñjīta niyato yatiḥ || 15 ||

Translation

Kaya nga, ang yatí na may pagpipigil-sa-sarili, na matatag na nakalagay sa mga mapalad na disiplina na itinuro nina Sanaka at ng iba pa, at pinagkalooban ng angkop na mga kabutihan, ay dapat magsanay nang may pag-iingat sa pamamagitan ng mga pagtalima na tinatawag na yama at ng mga tuntuning tinatawag na niyama.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• भद्राः: the auspicious ones (good persons)
• भद्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सनादीनाम्: of the (group beginning with) sana etc.
• सनादीनाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनादि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (गण/समूहवाचक), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• समास्थाय: having undertaken/assumed
• समास्थाय: Kriyā (क्रिया; pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action): “having undertaken/assumed”

• गुणैः: with qualities
• गुणैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• युतः: endowed/connected
• युतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √युज्/युज् ‘to join’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying the implied subject ‘यतिः’)

• यम-आख्यैः: with those called yamas
• यम-आख्यैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यम + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नामधारक/‘called’): यमाख्य = ‘called yama’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नियम-आख्यैः: with those called niyamas
• नियम-आख्यैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियम + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: नियमाख्य = ‘called niyamas’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• युञ्जीत: should practice/apply
• युञ्जीत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• नियतः: disciplined
• नियतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying ‘यतिः’)

• यतिः: the ascetic
• यतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (Sanaka and the other Kumaras as teachers in the Moksha-dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sanaka
• Sanatkumara (Kumaras)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that liberation-oriented practice begins with ethical and disciplined living: a renunciant must be grounded in virtues and then systematically cultivate yama (restraints) and niyama (observances) as the foundation of higher yoga and moksha.

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

While this verse is framed as yogic discipline, it supports bhakti by purifying conduct and mind; yama-niyama make the practitioner steady, truthful, and controlled—qualities that stabilize devotion and enable sustained remembrance and worship without distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-based conduct training—yama and niyama—as an applied discipline that prepares one for mantra, worship, and contemplative practice.