Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

आचार्यः प्लाविता तस्य ज्ञानं प्लव इहोच्यते । विज्ञाय कृतकृत्यस्तु तीर्णस्तत्रोभयं त्यजेत् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

ācāryaḥ plāvitā tasya jñānaṃ plava ihocyate | vijñāya kṛtakṛtyastu tīrṇastatrobhayaṃ tyajet || 20 ||

Translation

Para sa kanya, ang ācārya ang siyang nagpapatawid; at ang kaalaman ay tinatawag dito na bangkang pantawid. Kapag natanto ang katotohanan at naging yaong nakatupad na sa dapat tupdin, matapos makatawid ay dapat bitawan ang kapwa (ang guro bilang paraan at ang kaalaman bilang paraan).

Word by Word

• आचार्यः: the teacher
• आचार्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्लाविता: (is) the one who ferries across
• प्लाविता: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्लु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ācāryaḥ)

• तस्य: of him/for him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्लवः: a raft
• प्लवः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ज्ञानम् इति विषयस्य विधेय-नाम (predicate noun)

• इह: here
• इह: Desha-Adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'here/in this world'

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

• विज्ञाय: having realized
• विज्ञाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) = 'having known/realized'

• कृत-कृत्यः: one who has accomplished what is to be done
• कृत-कृत्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त) + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (one whose duty is done)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle) = 'but/indeed'

• तीर्णः: having crossed over
• तीर्णः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past active participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'having crossed'

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Desha-Adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'there/in that state'

• उभयम्: both (things)
• उभयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that guru and jñāna are indispensable means to cross saṃsāra, but after direct realization one should not cling to the instruments—freedom includes non-attachment even to sacred means.

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

While the verse is framed in jñāna-language, it supports bhakti by emphasizing surrender to guidance (ācārya) and then resting in the attained truth without egoic clinging to methods—mature devotion culminates in effortless abiding.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is sādhanā-viveka—treat teachings and techniques as a raft for crossing, not as possessions to be held onto after realization.