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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

अचेतनं जीवगुणं वदंति स चेष्टते चेष्टयते च सर्वम् । अतः परं क्षेत्रविदो वदंति प्रावर्तयद्यो भुवनानि सप्त ॥ ४४ ॥

acetanaṃ jīvaguṇaṃ vadaṃti sa ceṣṭate ceṣṭayate ca sarvam | ataḥ paraṃ kṣetravido vadaṃti prāvartayadyo bhuvanāni sapta || 44 ||

وہ کہتے ہیں کہ جیو کا گُن (پرَان شکتی) بےشعور ہے؛ پھر بھی وہ خود حرکت کرتا ہے اور سب کو حرکت دیتا ہے۔ اس لیے اہلِ معرفتِ کشترا اس سے برتر اُس کشت্রجْن کو بتاتے ہیں جو ساتوں بھونوں کو کارفرما کرتا ہے۔

acetanaṃinsentient
acetanaṃ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roota-cetana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेध (a- 'non-'); विशेषण (qualifies jīvaguṇam)
jīvaguṇamthe jīva-attribute
jīvaguṇam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootjīva-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (jīvasya guṇaḥ = 'quality/attribute of the jīva'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)
vadantithey say
vadanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vad (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person plural)
saḥit/he
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular)
ceṣṭateacts/moves
ceṣṭate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ceṣṭ (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular)
ceṣṭayatecauses (others) to act
ceṣṭayate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ceṣṭ (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular); णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: 'causes to act')
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
sarvameverything
sarvam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)
ataḥtherefore; from this
ataḥ:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootataḥ (अव्यय)
Formहेतु/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable: 'therefore/from this')
paramfurther; next
param:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formक्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative: 'further/next/afterwards')
kṣetravidaḥknowers of the field
kṣetravidaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkṣetra-vid (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (kṣetraṃ veda = 'knower of the field'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)
vadantithey say
vadanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vad (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person plural)
prāvartayatsetting in motion; causing to proceed
prāvartayat:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√vṛt (धातु)
Formकृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय, present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)
yaḥwho
yaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Relative pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular)
bhuvanāniworlds
bhuvanāni:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbhuvana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Plural)
saptaseven
sapta:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsapta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Plural); विशेषण (qualifies bhuvanāni)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

It distinguishes between the seemingly active life-force (treated as a non-conscious function) and the higher conscious principle—the kṣetrajña/Ātman—described as the true impeller behind all activity across the seven worlds.

By pointing to a reality higher than prāṇa and bodily functions, it directs the seeker to worship and realize the indwelling Lord/Ātman as the real source of power—supporting bhakti as devotion to the inner ruler rather than identification with mere life-processes.

The verse is primarily Vedāntic (kṣetra–kṣetrajña viveka) rather than a direct Vedāṅga instruction; its practical takeaway is discernment—separating bodily functions like prāṇa from the conscious Self that truly governs action.