Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

अखण्डमंडलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम् । तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

akhaṇḍamaṃḍalākāraṃ vyāptaṃ yena carācaram | tatpadaṃ darśitaṃ yena tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ || 55 ||

Translation

“Pagpupugay sa kagalang-galang na Śrī Guru: sa pamamagitan niya nakikilala na ang sansinukob—ang gumagalaw at di-gumagalaw—ay nilulukuban ng Isa, na may anyong buo at walang putol; at sa pamamagitan niya nahahayag ang kataas-taasang kalagayan (ang Katotohanang iyon).”

Word by Word

• अखण्ड-मण्डल-आकारम्: having the form of an unbroken sphere/circle
• अखण्ड-मण्डल-आकारम्: Karma (कर्म/object; with vyāptam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg); तत्पुरुषः — ‘अखण्डस्य मण्डलस्य आकारः’ (having the form of an unbroken circle/whole sphere)

• व्याप्तम्: pervaded
• व्याप्तम्: Karma (कर्म/predicative to object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + √आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg) agreeing with आकारम्; ‘pervaded’

• येन: by whom/with which
• येन: Karana (करण/instrument/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), तृतीया एकवचन (Instr sg); सर्वनाम

• चर-अचरम्: the moving and the unmoving (world)
• चर-अचरम्: Karma (कर्म/object; of vyāptam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक) + अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg); द्वन्द्वः — ‘moving and unmoving (beings)’

• तत्-पदम्: that state/abode
• तत्-पदम्: Karma (कर्म/object; of darśitam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg); तत्पुरुषः — ‘तस्य पदम्’ (that state/footing/abode)

• दर्शितम्: shown
• दर्शितम्: Karma (कर्म/predicative to object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोगे क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (causative sense possible) past participle; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg) agreeing with पदम्; ‘shown/indicated’

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karana (करण/instrument/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), तृतीया एकवचन (Instr sg)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी एकवचन (Dat sg); सर्वनाम

• श्री-गुरवे: to the venerable guru
• श्री-गुरवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी एकवचन (Dat sg); कर्मधारयः — ‘श्रीमान् गुरुḥ’ (venerable/holy guru)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/formulaic)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable interjection); नमस्कारार्थे (salutation)

Speaker

Narada (invocatory verse in the teaching context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Guru

FAQs

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

It honors the Guru as the one who makes direct knowledge of the all-pervading, indivisible Reality possible and who reveals the highest spiritual state (tat-pada), making liberation-oriented understanding attainable.

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

By offering namas (salutation) to the Guru, it models humility and surrender—core bhakti attitudes—while affirming that devotion culminates in the Guru’ss guidance toward realization of the supreme Reality.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It underscores the pedagogical principle central to the Vedangas: correct transmission through a qualified teacher (guru-śiṣya paramparā), without which higher meanings of mantra, śāstra, and their applications are not properly ‘revealed’ (darśita).