Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

आत्मवत्सर्वभूतानि पश्यन्विषयनिःस्पृहः । सर्वभूतहितो दान्त स्तताप सुमहत्तपः ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

ātmavatsarvabhūtāni paśyanviṣayaniḥspṛhaḥ | sarvabhūtahito dānta statāpa sumahattapaḥ || 52 ||

Translation

Xem mọi loài như chính mình, không ham muốn các đối tượng giác quan, luôn mưu cầu lợi ích cho muôn loài và tự chế, ngài đã thực hành khổ hạnh vô cùng lớn lao.

Word by Word

• आत्मवत्: as oneself/like the self
• आत्मवत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग)
• Form: तुल्यवाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable in -वत् used adverbially)

• सर्वभूतानि: all beings
• सर्वभूतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व+भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—सर्वाणि भूतानि (कर्मधारय)

• पश्यन्: seeing/regarding
• पश्यन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विषयनिःस्पृहः: free from desire for sense-objects
• विषयनिःस्पृहः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषय+निःस्पृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—विषयेषु निःस्पृहः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• सर्वभूतहितः: beneficial to all beings
• सर्वभूतहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व+भूत+हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—सर्वभूतानां हितः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• दान्तः: self-controlled
• दान्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तताप: performed austerity
• तताप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु+महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपसर्ग/उपपदपूर्वक-समासः—सु (अव्यय) + महत्

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It defines the inner marks of true tapas: universal empathy (seeing all as oneself), dispassion toward sense-pleasures, and disciplined self-restraint—together forming a direct foundation for purification and liberation-oriented living.

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

Although it speaks in the language of tapas, it supports bhakti by insisting on purity of heart: a devotee who is niḥspṛha (desireless) and sarvabhūta-hita (kind to all) becomes fit for steady remembrance and loving service to the Lord without selfish motives.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-soteriological discipline—dama (sense-restraint) and vairagya (detachment)—which undergirds all Vedic study and practice.