Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 116

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

एषामेकतमं बद्धा गुरुभक्तिपरायणः । उपासको जयेत्प्राणान्द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

eṣāmekatamaṃ baddhā gurubhaktiparāyaṇaḥ | upāsako jayetprāṇāndvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ || 16 ||

Translation

ان میں سے کسی ایک کو مضبوطی سے اختیار کرکے، گرو بھکتی میں منہمک عبادت گزار کو چاہیے کہ وہ پرانوں پر فتح پائے؛ وہ دوئی سے ماورا اور حسد سے پاک رہے۔

Word by Word

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), बहुवचन

• एकतमम्: one (among them)
• एकतमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (one of them)

• बद्धा: having bound/assumed (the posture)
• बद्धा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (having bound/assuming)

• गुरुभक्तिपरायणः: devoted to devotion toward the guru
• गुरुभक्तिपरायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गुरौ भक्तिः यस्य/गुरुभक्तौ परायणः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• उपासकः: a practitioner/worshipper
• उपासकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपासक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जयेत्: should conquer/master
• जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्राणान्: the vital breaths
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• द्वन्द्वातीतः: gone beyond dualities
• द्वन्द्वातीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अतीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वन्द्वम् अतीतः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विमत्सरः: free from jealousy
• विमत्सरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि- + मत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्/वि-प्रत्ययार्थे 'free from envy'

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Guru

FAQs

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

It defines the inner marks of a true upāsaka: firm commitment to one chosen discipline, devotion to the guru, mastery of the life-forces, transcendence of dualities, and freedom from envy—qualities that mature practice into liberation-oriented steadiness.

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

Bhakti is shown as disciplined devotion anchored in guru-reverence; the devotee’s worship is validated not only by ritual but by inner transformation—non-envy (vimatsaratā) and equanimity beyond opposites (dvandvātītatā).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While no single Vedāṅga is named, the verse points to yogic-practical training commonly supported by Śikṣā (breath/phonetics discipline) and Kalpa (regulated practice), emphasizing prāṇa-jaya (mastery of the vital energies) as a concrete sādhanā outcome.